Electric Field Strength and its Dependence on the Type of Material

Abstract

This article explores the fundamental relationship between electric field strength and the type of material in which the field is present. The electric field, as a vector quantity representing the force acting on a unit positive charge, is known to be influenced significantly by the material properties of the surrounding medium. Through a combination of theoretical analysis and simulation using MATLAB, this study examines how various materials—such as vacuum, air, glass, plastic, and copper—alter the magnitude and distribution of the electric field.

Special attention is given to the contrasting behavior of dielectric and conductive materials. In dielectric materials, polarization effects cause the electric field to weaken within the medium, whereas in conductors, free charge carriers rearrange to cancel the internal field entirely. Simulated models illustrate how these materials respond under identical boundary conditions, allowing a direct comparison of electric field intensities.

The findings are supported by tables and graphical data that provide a clear visual representation of how electric field strength depends on permittivity, conductivity, and internal structure of materials. This work provides insights that are particularly useful in fields like electrical insulation design, sensor development, and electromagnetic compatibility analysis.