polarizable
Adjective: Capable of being polarized; able to acquire or exhibit polarity (the property of having opposite electrical charges or magnetic poles) under the influence of an external electric field or magnetic field.
- (Water can easily develop opposite charges when near ions.)
- (The crystal can change its electrical distribution in response to light.)
- (The substance does not readily separate its charges.)
"Polarizable medium": A substance in which the constituent particles can be displaced to create an electric dipole moment when an external electric field is applied.
- In a polarizable medium, the dielectric constant is higher than in a vacuum. (The material’s ability to store electrical energy is enhanced.)
"Polarizable atom": An atom whose electron cloud can be distorted by an electric field.
- A larger atom is often more polarizable because its outer electrons are farther from the nucleus. (A bigger atom’s electrons are more easily shifted.)
Polarize (verb): to cause (something) to acquire polarity.
- The electric field will polarize the molecules in the sample. (The field will align the charges in the molecules.)
Polarization (noun): the state or process of becoming polarizable or acquiring polarity.
- The polarization of the material affects how it interacts with light. (The alignment of charges changes the material’s optical properties.)
Polarizability (noun): the measure of how easily a substance or molecule can be polarized.
- The polarizability of a gas can be measured in a laboratory. (The gas’s ability to develop polarity is quantified.)
Dielectric: relating to a nonconducting material that can be polarized (often used in physics contexts).
- A dielectric material is polarizable under an electric field. (It can store electrical energy without conducting.)
Polarizing: causing polarization (though this can also mean causing division of opinion; context matters).
- The polarizing effect of the magnet aligned the particles. (The magnet caused the particles to become polarized.)