On the Meaning of Electric Displacement Vector

In the section of electromagnetism in College Physics, the electric displacement vector(D), is often introduced as an auxiliary physical concept through the studies on the interaction of electrostatic field and dielectric. However, the meaning of electric displacement vector is seldom expounded deeply in general electromagnetism references and electrodynamics. Basing on the history and definition formula of electric displacement, this paper makes a careful analysis of the meaning of electric displacement vector and presents its physical meaning.