Dielectrics are non-conductors. Their electric charge will not flow when an electric field is applied, but there will be a displacement of electric charges. This displacement of charges can occur at both the atomic level and molecular level.

At the atomic level, electrons are all confined in atoms in dielectrics. Electrons and nuclei carry negative and positive charges respectively. In the absence of an electric field, electrons move symmetrically around the nucleus inside the atom. The atom appears as a neutral particle. When an electric field is applied, electrons will be pulled toward the higher voltage end, while nuclei will be pulled toward the lower voltage end. Total charge of the atom is still zero, but there is a nonzero distance between the average position of electrons and nucleus. This is called a dipole. Under the influence of the electric field, each atom becomes a dipole lined up...