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When a dielectric is placed in a uniform electric field, the electric dipole moment produced per unit volume is called

Asked in GSEB Board July 2023 · Polarisation and bound charge

Answer: (4) Polarisation

Step-by-step solution

Idea: in an external field, each small volume of a dielectric acquires a net dipole moment, from induced dipoles or from permanent dipoles lining up.

The dipole moment per unit volume is called the polarisation, ⃗P = (Σ⃗p)/(volume), with unit C m⁻².

For a linear dielectric ⃗P = ε₀χₑ⃗E, where χₑ is the electric susceptibility — a different quantity.

So the quantity described is the polarisation.

Why the other options are wrong

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