When 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?

When an external electric field is applied, the atoms or molecules inside the dielectric shift so that their positive and negative charges separate slightly, creating tiny dipoles. These induced dipoles point in the direction of the field, so the material develops a net bound charge on its surfaces that opposes the applied field. This internal rearrangement reduces the field inside the dielectric, a phenomenon called polarization. For example, if you place a plastic bag between two charged plates, the plastic’s charges line up, creating an opposing field that makes the plates feel less strongly. The result is a reduced internal field and a redistribution of bound charges that cancel part of the external influence.