[Physics] What happens to the energy of a capacitor after a dielectric is inserted

capacitanceelectrostatics

Consider a parallel plate capacitor having capacitance $ C$ and charge $Q$. then the energy of the capacitor will be $\frac{Q^2}{2C}$. Now if a dielectric is inserted, then $C $ increases and thus the energy decreases.

My question is – where does the energy go? If it gets used up to polarise the dielectric, thne if we remove the dielectric, how does it regain the energy from the dielectric?

Best Answer

My question is - where does the energy go?

Someone has to insert or remove the dielectric and that will require work (either positive or negative depending on the situation). Work is where the energy goes.