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Ohm's Law - Limitations of Ohm’s Law

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Estimated time: 7 minutes
CBSE: Class 12

Definition: Ohmic Device

A device that obeys Ohm's law and gives a straight-line V-I graph through the origin.

CBSE: Class 12

Definition: Non-ohmic Device

A device that does not obey Ohm's law and shows a non-linear or direction-dependent V-I relation.

CBSE: Class 12

Challenges Faced by the Law

The source material states that several devices do not show a simple direct proportionality between voltage and current. In such cases, the V-I graph is not a straight line through the origin, so Ohm's law cannot be applied in its simple form.

Main Reasons for Failure of Ohm's Law

  • The current may not be directly proportional to the applied voltage.
  • The relation between voltage and current may depend on the sign or direction of voltage, as in a diode.
  • The relation may not be unique; more than one voltage value may correspond to the same current, as mentioned for GaAs.
  • Resistance may change with voltage, current, temperature, or the nature of the material.
CBSE: Class 12

Limitations of Ohm's Law

1. Non-linear Elements

Ohm's law does not apply to non-linear elements in which current is not directly proportional to voltage.

  • Resistance is not constant.
  • The V-I graph is curved.
  • The ratio V/I changes from point to point.

Examples: thermistors, junction diodes, electrolytes, vacuum tubes.

2. Unilateral Devices

The source notes that Ohm's law fails in unilateral networks, where current flows mainly in one direction.

  • Such devices behave differently for forward and reverse bias.
  • Therefore, the voltage-current relation is not the same in both directions.

Example: diode.

3. Non-unique V-I Relation

Some materials may show a V-I relation that is not unique.

  • For the same current, more than one voltage value may occur.
  • This directly violates the simple linear relation required by Ohm's law.

Example: gallium arsenide (GaAs).

4. Dependence on Physical Conditions

Ohm's law is valid only when physical conditions remain unchanged.

  • If temperature changes, resistance may change.
  • If internal structure or material response changes with current, linearity is lost.
  • Therefore, practical devices may depart from ideal ohmic behaviour.
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