Permittivity of Free Space

Key Stage 5

The permittivity of free space is a measure of how easily electrostatic fields can propagate through the vacuum.

The permittivity of free space is denoted with the Greek letter epsilon followed by a subscript of 0 (\(\varepsilon_0\)).

The unit of permittivity of free space are the Farad per metre \(Fm^{-1}\).

The permittivity of free space is a universal physical constant of magnitude \(8.85\times10^{-12}Fm^{-1}\).

When an electrostatic field propagates through a medium which is not the vacuum the permittivity of that medium is given by the product of its relative permittivity and the permittivity of free space.