A method of measurement of the dielectric constant of some liquids (teaching)

The method depends on the existence of a driving force on a liquid dielectric in an electric field. The force leads to a rise in the liquid level between the plates of a capacitor. The capacitor plates were placed just above a reservoir of the dielectric liquid, the level of which was monitored by a travelling microscope. The rise in liquid level (h) was measured for selected values of voltage (v) until sparking between the plates occurred. A plot of h against V² was obtained, and the dielectric constant was determined from the slope of the graph.