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 ELECTRONIC PRINCIPLES - OD1647 - LESSON 1/TASK 1
FIGURE 29. DISTORTION OF AN ELECTRON'S ORBITS IN A DIELECTRIC.
Notice that the orbits of the electrons in the dielectric
material are distorted by the electrostatic field. The
distortion occurs because the electrons in the dielectric are
attracted to the top plate while being repelled from the bottom
plate. When switch S1 is opened, the battery is removed from
the circuit and the charge is retained by the capacitor. This
occurs because the dielectric material is an insulator, and the
electrons in the bottom plate (negative charge) have no path to
reach the top plate (positive charge). The distorted orbits of
the atoms of the dielectric, plus the electrostatic force of
attraction between the two plates, hold the positive and
negative charges in their original position. Thus, the energy
which came from the battery is now stored in the electrostatic
field of the capacitor.
Two slightly different symbols for representing a capacitor are
shown in figure 30 on the following page. Notice that each
symbol is composed of two plates separated by a space that
represents the dielectric. The curved plate in view B of figure
30 indicates the plate should be connected to a negative
polarity.
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