What is the major function of a dielectric in a capacitor? To improve its ability to....

The major function of a dielectric in a capacitor is to improve its ability to store electrical charge. Here's a step-by-step explanation:

1. A capacitor is a device that stores electrical energy in an electric field. It is made up of two conductive plates separated by a non-conductive material, or dielectric.

2. The dielectric is placed between the plates of a capacitor to increase the capacitor's ability to store charge. This is because the dielectric reduces the electric field between the plates, allowing them to store more charge for a given voltage (V = Q/C, where V is voltage, Q is charge, and C is capacitance).

3. The dielectric also serves to prevent the flow of direct current (DC) between the plates, thus preventing a short circuit.

4. The ability of a dielectric to store charge is characterized by its dielectric constant. The higher the dielectric constant, the greater the charge a capacitor can store.

5. Therefore, by increasing the capacitance, a dielectric allows a capacitor to store more energy in its electric field for a given voltage. This is the major function of a dielectric in a capacitor.