Non-ohmic conductors, also known as non-ohmic materials or non-ohmic resistors, are materials that do not follow Ohm's Law. Ohm's Law states that the current passing through a conductor is directly proportional to the voltage applied across it, and the proportionality constant is the resistance of the conductor. In mathematical terms, Ohm's Law can be expressed as:
V = I * R
Where:
V is the voltage across the conductor
I is the current passing through the conductor
R is the resistance of the conductor
Non-ohmic conductors do not obey this linear relationship between voltage and current. Instead, their resistance changes with the applied voltage or current. This behavior is typically observed in materials that have complex electronic structures or specific properties that lead to non-linear current-voltage characteristics. Two common types of non-ohmic conductors are:
Semiconductors: Semiconductors are materials that have conductivity between that of conductors (like metals) and insulators (like ceramics or plastics). The conductivity of semiconductors can be significantly altered by changing the temperature or by applying an electric field. As the electric field increases, the charge carriers (electrons or holes) in the semiconductor can become more mobile, leading to a non-linear relationship between voltage and current.
Gas Discharge Tubes: Gas discharge tubes are devices filled with a gas or mixture of gases that can conduct electricity when a voltage is applied across them. These tubes are commonly used in applications such as neon lights or surge protection devices. The resistance of a gas discharge tube depends on factors like the gas mixture, pressure, and the voltage applied, resulting in a non-ohmic behavior.
In non-ohmic conductors, the current-voltage relationship is often represented by curves rather than straight lines on a graph. This behavior can lead to various interesting applications and phenomena, such as in the case of semiconductors, where the non-linear relationship is used to create diodes and transistors for electronic devices.
It's important to note that while non-ohmic conductors deviate from Ohm's Law, Ohm's Law itself remains a fundamental principle of basic electricity and is applicable to a wide range of conductors under typical conditions.