noun
- a measure of how an electric field affects, and is affected by, a dielectric medium
Usage: physics; electrical engineering
Examples
- The permittivity of vacuum is a fundamental physical constant.
- Materials with high permittivity are used in capacitors to store more electrical energy.
- The relative permittivity of water is about 81 at room temperature.
- Engineers must consider the permittivity of insulating materials when designing circuits.
- The permittivity of a material determines how much electric field is reduced within it.
- Free space has the lowest possible permittivity value.