Past exam of the MPhil in micro- and nanotechnology enterprise course of the University of Cambridge / 2022 / Paper 2 / Section A(iii) / 19 / ii / b / Solution 2026-10-20
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Under the same positive, real-permittivity assumptions,
(1)
The particle is less polarizable than the surrounding medium and moves towards weaker-field regions. The sign describes the polarizability contrast, not a negative net electric charge. Conducting or lossy media require the real part of the full complex Clausius-Mossotti factor; a comparison of only the real dielectric constants is then insufficient.
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