Which term describes the separation of charges inside an object caused by an external electric field?

Which term describes the separation of charges inside an object caused by an external electric field?

• A. Electric field
• B. Magnetism
• C. Ohm
• D. Polarization

Answer: (D)

Polarization is the separation of charges inside a material in response to an external electric field. When the field is applied, bound charges within atoms shift slightly relative to the nuclei, creating tiny dipoles that tend to align with the field. This internal dipole formation changes how the material behaves in the field and is described by the polarization, the dipole moment per unit volume. In conductors, free charges move to the surface to cancel the interior field, which is related but polarization specifically refers to the dipole formation inside a dielectric.

Polarization is the separation of charges inside a material in response to an external electric field. When the field is applied, bound charges within atoms shift slightly relative to the nuclei, creating tiny dipoles that tend to align with the field. This internal dipole formation changes how the material behaves in the field and is described by the polarization, the dipole moment per unit volume. In conductors, free charges move to the surface to cancel the interior field, which is related but polarization specifically refers to the dipole formation inside a dielectric.