What is an ohmic resistor? How to check if a resistor is ohmic?

An ohmic resistor is a resistor that obeys Ohm's law V = IR (voltage = current x resistance). Therefore, if the voltage in such element is increased by n number of times, by the same number n has to increase the current.

To determine if a resistor is ohmic, voltage in a resistor needs to be changed and both voltage and current have to be meassured. The obtained values are ploted on y = V(I) graph, if a line starting at 0 is obtained, then the measured properties are of an ohmic resistor and the gradient of the line is its resistance.

JV
Answered by Jonas V. Physics tutor

33590 Views

See similar Physics A Level tutors

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

What is dimensional analysis and how is it used?


How do we know the energy of a photon (light particle) is quantised?


A basketball player throws his ball vertically upwards with an initial speed of v=40 m/s. Ignore air resistance. What is the speed of the ball at half of the maximum height?


Describe how the strong nuclear force between nucleons varies with seperation of the nucleons.


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning