You're on.

Permittivity is also dielectric constant.

Ok, so what?  Time for real simple terms.

Think of it like lens. It's the ability of a material
to *focus* an electric field (electric lines of force)
as a result of electric charges.

The higher the dielectric constant, the better the
capacitor. A material with a dielectric constant or
permittivity of 4 is four times better a capacitor
than say a capacitor with just air between the plates.

The *air* cap will have a voltage breakdown at 1/4
the voltage that the cap with a dielectric constant
has across it. Higher dielectric constants increases
the electrical strength of the material.

You can do the same type of analogy with permeability.
Permeability is the ability of a material to focus
*magnetic* lines of force. And so forth ...

That do it fer ya?

Regards,  Doug

----------
> From: [log in to unmask]
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: [DC] Permittivity
> Date: Monday, February 09, 1998 4:03 PM
>
> To:           IPC
> Date:   2/6/98
> Re:           Permittivity
>
> From:   Mary Sugden                            [log in to unmask]
>         The Copper Connection, Inc.
>         Ph(408) 970-9838  Fx(408) 970-9184
>         hhtp//www.copperconn.com
> ________________________________________________________________
>
> I would like to have a clear and consise definition for the term
> "permittivity" as it relates to dielectric materials.  I have
> read no less than fifty different definitions and descriptions
> and still do not have a clear and consise definition.  In
> several of the references, it simply states, ...see dielectric
> constant.  However, the other descriptions and definitions of
> permittivity lead me to believe there is a subtle difference
> between the two terms.  The definitions for relative dielctric
> constant are fairly clear and consistent between the various
> references I have used, but the definitions for permittivity are
> ambiguous and inconsistent.
>
> For the best definition, I will send the dude or dudette a
> nice bottle of California White Zinfandel
>
> _________________________ Shareware ____________________________
>
>
> "Will you teach your children what we have taught our children?
> That the Earth is our mother?   What befalls the Earth, befalls
> all of the sons and daughters of the Earth.
>
> This we know; The Earth does not belong to man, man belongs to
> the Earth.   All things are connected like the blood that unites
> us all.   Man did not weave the web of life, he is merely a
> strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself.."
>
> ...Chief Seattle         In a letter to President Pierce, 1852
>
> ################################################################
> DesignerCouncil E-Mail Forum provided as a free service by IPC using
LISTSERV 1.8c
> ################################################################
> To subscribe/unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with
following text in the body:
> To subscribe:   SUBSCRIBE DesignerCouncil <your full name>
> To unsubscribe:   SIGNOFF DesignerCouncil
> ################################################################
> Please visit IPC web site (http://jefry.ipc.org/forum.htm) for additional
information.
> For the technical support contact Dmitriy Sklyar at [log in to unmask] or
847-509-9700 ext.311
> ################################################################

################################################################
DesignerCouncil E-Mail Forum provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8c
################################################################
To subscribe/unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the body:
To subscribe:   SUBSCRIBE DesignerCouncil <your full name>
To unsubscribe:   SIGNOFF DesignerCouncil 
################################################################
Please visit IPC web site (http://jefry.ipc.org/forum.htm) for additional information.
For the technical support contact Dmitriy Sklyar at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.311
################################################################