What is the Difference Between Ohmic and Non Ohmic Conductors?

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:

1. Ohm's Law:

• Ohmic conductors follow Ohm's law.
• Non-ohmic conductors do not follow Ohm's law.

1. 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.

1. 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.

1. Examples:

• Examples of ohmic conductors include metals and resistors.
• Examples of non-ohmic conductors include diodes and semiconductors.

1. 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:

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.