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If ⃗P is the polarisation of a linear isotropic dielectric and ⃗E is the electric field, then the electric susceptibility of the dielectric medium is ______.

Asked in GSEB Board July 2022 · Polarisation and bound charge

Answer: (1) P/E

Step-by-step solution

In a linear isotropic dielectric the polarisation is proportional to the field and points along it: ⃗P=χₑ⃗E.

The constant of proportionality χₑ is the electric susceptibility of the medium.

Since ⃗P and ⃗E are parallel, divide the magnitudes: χₑ=P/E.

With this definition χₑ has the unit (C m⁻²)/(N C⁻¹)=C² N⁻¹ m⁻², the same as ε₀.

So the susceptibility is P/E.

Why the other options are wrong

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