Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Definition
Polarization refers to aligning or separating positive and negative charges within an object or material due to external influences such as an electric field.
Related terms
Electric Dipole: A pair of equal and opposite charges separated by a small distance, resulting in a dipole moment.
Dielectric Polarization: The alignment of polar molecules within a dielectric material when subjected to an external electric field.
Induced Charge: Charges that are redistributed within an object due to the presence of nearby charged objects.