See Also: permittivity(dictionary)

permittivity (iou)



permittivity noun. L19.
[from PERMIT verb + -IVITY.]
Physics. One of the physical parameters of a medium, determining its ability to store electrical energy in an electric field and equal to the ratio of the electric flux density to the electric field strength at any point (also absolute permittivity); (in full relative permittivity) the ratio of the absolute permittivity of a medium to that of free space. Also called dielectric constant.
permittivity of free space a constant ¦Å0 which in the cgs electrostatic system of units is unity and in the International System of Units is 1/¦Ì0c2 (= 8.854 1012) farad per metre, where ¦Ì0 is the permeability of free space and c is the speed of light.