Chapter 16 - Electric Potential, Energy, and Capacitance - Learning Path Questions and Exercises - Conceptual Questions - Page 591: 18

A conductor would not be a good choice as a dielectric for a capacitor because we cannot maintain a nonzero voltage on a conductor; charges will move from the positive to the negative immediately so they cannot be stored.

A conductor would not be a good choice as a dielectric for a capacitor because we cannot maintain a nonzero voltage on a conductor; charges will move from the positive to the negative immediately so they cannot be stored.