What is the Difference Between Ohmic and Non Ohmic Conductors?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between ohmic and non-ohmic conductors lies in their relationship between current and voltage. Ohmic conductors follow Ohm's law, which states that the current flowing through a conductor is directly proportional to the potential difference across its terminals. In contrast, non-ohmic conductors do not follow Ohm's law to a significant extent, and their resistance changes in response to the applied voltage.
Here are five key differences between ohmic and non-ohmic conductors:
- Ohm's Law:
- Ohmic conductors follow Ohm's law.
- Non-ohmic conductors do not follow Ohm's law.
- Resistance:
- The resistance of ohmic conductors remains constant when subjected to varying current and voltage.
- The resistance of non-ohmic conductors varies with changes in current, voltage, and temperature.
- Relationship between Current and Voltage:
- The relationship between current and voltage is linear for ohmic conductors.
- The relationship between current and voltage is not linear for non-ohmic conductors.
- Examples:
- Examples of ohmic conductors include metals and resistors.
- Examples of non-ohmic conductors include diodes and semiconductors.
- Temperature Effect:
- For ohmic conductors, the resistance remains constant regardless of temperature changes.
- For non-ohmic conductors, the resistance increases with an increase in temperature.
Ohmic conductors are used in electrical circuits where accurate and predictable control of current and voltage is required, while non-ohmic conductors are used in a wide range of applications where fine control of current inflow is needed.
Comparative Table: Ohmic vs Non Ohmic Conductors
Here is a table comparing the differences between ohmic and non-ohmic conductors:
Property | Ohmic Conductors | Non-Ohmic Conductors |
---|---|---|
Definition | Materials with a constant electrical resistance over a broad range of applied voltages, also known as linear conductors. | Materials whose resistance changes in response to the applied voltage, also known as non-linear conductors. |
Resistance | Resistance remains constant regardless of the applied voltage or current. | Resistance varies with changes in voltage or current, and can also be influenced by factors like temperature and doping levels. |
Examples | Metals, resistors, and nichrome wires. | Diodes, semiconductors, electrolytes, thyristors, transistors, thermistors, and gas discharge tubes. |
Current-Voltage Relationship | The relationship between current and voltage is linear, obeying Ohm's Law (V = I â‹… R). | The relationship between current and voltage is non-linear, not obeying Ohm's Law. |
Temperature Dependency | Resistance remains constant with changes in temperature. | Resistance can increase with an increase in temperature. |
Ohmic conductors, such as metals and resistors, follow Ohm's Law and have a linear relationship between current and voltage. On the other hand, non-ohmic conductors, such as diodes and semiconductors, do not follow Ohm's Law and have a non-linear relationship between current and voltage.
- Electrical Conductor vs Insulator
- Conductivity vs Conductance
- Electronic vs Ionic Conduction
- Conductor Semiconductor vs Insulator
- Electrical vs Thermal Conductivity
- Superconductor vs Perfect Conductor
- Metallic vs Electrolytic Conduction
- Thermal Insulator vs Thermal Conductor
- Conducting vs Non Conducting Polymers
- Conductivity vs Molar Conductivity
- Semiconductor vs Superconductor
- Conduction vs Induction
- Ohm’s Law vs Kirchhoff’s Law
- Thermal Conductivity vs Diffusivity
- Metals vs Non-metals
- Superfluidity vs Superconductivity
- Resistance vs Resistivity
- Metals vs Nonmetals
- Insulator vs Dielectric