why are insulators called dielectrics?

Question

anonymous · Answer

Insulators are the materials which do not conduct electricity as they do not have free electrons. But an insulator can behave in two ways. These are:

i. It may not conduct electricity through it at all (pure insulators)

ii. It may not conduct electricity through it as such but when we place it in an electric field, charges get induced on its faces. Such an insulator is called dielectric. The valence electrons in atoms of dielectric are tightly bound to their nuclei.

jmark · Answer

Dielectrics are non-conducting substances, they have no charge carriers or no free electrons. If an external field is applied, it turns out that charges are induced on the surface which in turn produces a field and opposes the external field.