THERMODYNAMIC-EQUILIBRIUM IN DIELECTRIC FLUIDS

A rigorous deduction of the thermodynamic-equilibrium condition is pro vided for a homogeneous, uncharged and linear dielectric fluid contain ed in an electrostatic field. Contrary to the previous ones, this dedu ction does not postulate the existence of a mechanical stress tensor a nd of a body force density in the polarized fluid. Then, the equilibri um condition is employed to obtain the mass density distribution of th e fluid and to present a correct proof of the well-known formula for t he attractive force between the plates of a plane-parallel capacitor i mmersed in the fluid.