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GCSE Combined Science · key term
A circuit component whose current–potential difference graph is not a straight line over the range being considered.
Used by OCR
Specification P3.2g · Physics Paper 1
Revise: Linear and Non-linear Circuit ElementsA non-linear circuit element has an I–V graph that is not a straight line. Its gradient changes, so equal increases in potential difference do not produce equal increases in current. A curve can rise throughout and still be non-linear: increasing together is not the same as being directly proportional.
Physics, Combined Science
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A circuit component whose current is not directly proportional to the potential difference across it; its I–V characteristic is not a straight line through the origin.
The lamp is a non-linear circuit element. Reversing the supply reverses the current but produces the same heating behaviour, so the graph has corresponding positive and negative branches.
