Electrical Constants of Dielectrics for Radio Frequency Currents

The source of power losses in a condenser may be considered as a resistance in series or in parallel with the condenser. If the resistance is considered as in series, the capacity must be considered as the effective capacity, and the power factor is given by a simple formula. If the resistance is considered as in parallel, the capacity must be considered as a pure capacity, and knowing the pure capacity with the given dielectric, and with air in turn between the plates of the condenser, the quotient of the former by the latter is the dielectric constant. The dielectric constants of several solid dielectrics were found to be approximately constant over the band of frequencies investigated, and the power factors changed according to no apparent law. A table of electrical constants for a number of materials and for a frequency of 1,000,000 cycles per second is given.