It is possible to build small, rigid circuits which have natural periods determined by the medium in which they are immersed. If $T_{\gamma }$, the product of the natural period of the circuit and the conductivity of the medium, is sufficiently small, this period is proportional to the square root of the dielectric constant of the latter. On the basis of this fact measurements have been made of the dielectric constant of water from 0° to 100°C to an accuracy of 0.2 percent or better and covering a range of frequency from $T=1.4\mathrm{}·{10}^{-8\mathrm{}} \mathrm{to} 81·{10}^{-8\mathrm{}}$. If $T_{\gamma }$ is not sufficiently small, the period is affected by the conductivity of the medium in a complicated way and cannot be used to obtain the dielectric constant. With the smallest circuits used measurements of the dielectric constants of liquids having conductivities as high as 100 times that of water can be made.

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