Learning Path
Question & Answer1
Understand Question2
Review Options3
Learn Explanation4
Explore TopicChoose the Best Answer
A
The material becomes conductive, allowing charge to flow freely.
B
The material retains its insulating properties with no charge flow.
C
The material emits light due to ionization without charge flow.
D
The material becomes permanently damaged but remains insulating.
Understanding the Answer
Let's break down why this is correct
Answer
When the electric field in a dielectric becomes stronger than its dielectric strength, the field is so intense that it pulls electrons out of the atoms, creating free charge carriers. These free electrons start moving, ionizing more atoms as they go, which creates an avalanche of charge. The material suddenly turns conductive, allowing a large current to flow and the dielectric to become electrically shorted. This rapid charge flow can heat, melt, or even vaporize the material, leaving a permanent crack or a permanent conductive path. For example, a 1‑mm thick mica sheet that can normally withstand 10 kV/cm will fail at 15 kV/cm, producing a spark and a hole where the sheet was.
Detailed Explanation
When the field exceeds the material’s limit, electrons are pulled out and a path of ionized gas forms. Other options are incorrect because This answer assumes the insulation stays unchanged, but the high field creates a free‑electron path; Ionization does produce light in a spark, but that light comes from the flowing charge.
Key Concepts
Dielectric Breakdown
Electric Field Strength and Charge Flow
Topic
Dielectric Charge Flow
Difficulty
medium level question
Cognitive Level
understand
Practice Similar Questions
Test your understanding with related questions
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Question 1When a dielectric material is placed in a uniform electric field, which of the following statements best describes the effect on the electric field strength inside the material?
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2
Question 2When a dielectric material is placed in an electric field, what occurs at the molecular level that contributes to its polarization?
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3
Question 3When an external electric field is applied to a dielectric material, which of the following best describes the resulting effect on the material's internal charge distribution?
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4
Question 4When a dielectric material is inserted into a capacitor, what is the primary effect on the electric field within the capacitor?
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