Abstract :
Vladimir Karapetoff: The phenomenon of absorption in a composite dielectric, each layer of which separately shows no absorption, has been graphically explained by Grünewald2. Referring to the accompanying sketch, consider the simplest case of two slabs A B C D and C D E F, of equal thickness and of equal insulation resistance to direct current. Let the material I be of much lower permittivity than the material I I. Let A B, C D, E F, represent very thin layers of metal foil, to insure the positions of equipotential surfaces. Assume the metal sheet A B grounded at G and a d-c. potential of value E F suddenly applied to the surface E F. The instantaneous distribution of potential may then be represented by the broken line H K F. The permittivity of the layer I being lower, a major portion, S K, of the total voltage is applied across it, and a minor portion, K C, across I I. The slopes of the two lines are inversely as the permittivities, or directly as the elastivities of the two materials.
