en>Hjilderda at 16:08, 25 November 2010

2010-11-25T16:08:42Z

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In an electric [[Electronic circuit|circuit]], a '''nonlinear element''' or '''nonlinear device''' is an [[electrical element]] which does not have a [[linear]] relationship between [[Electric current|current]] and [[voltage]]. A [[diode]] is a simple example. The current '''I''' through a diode is a non-linear function of the voltage '''V''' across its terminals:
:<math>I = I_0 e^{V/V_T}</math>
Nonlinear elements are avoided in some electronic circuits, called [[linear circuit]]s, because they have the potential to distort [[electrical signal]]s.

Other examples of nonlinear elements are [[transistor]]s and other [[semiconductor]] devices, [[vacuum tube]]s, and iron core [[inductor]]s and [[transformer]]s when operated above their [[Magnetic saturation|saturation]] current. Examples of linear elements are [[resistor]]s, [[capacitor]]s, and air core [[inductor]]s.

Many circuit elements that operate linearly at low signal levels will show nonlinearity at higher signal levels. An example of this can be seen in many [[audio system]]s by turning up the volume. At a high enough volume level, the transistors or other amplifying elements will begin to operate nonlinearly and distort the sound. Conversely, nonlinear elements can be made to operate linearly if the signal in them is limited to a low level. If the input of a non-linear device such as a transistor only varies in a small range around a fixed value, then the input/output relation is [[Linearization|linearized]] around this fixed value (usually called the quiescent point, Q-point, or [[Bias point]]). This is called a [[small signal model]].

==See also==
*[[Linear element]]

==External links==
*[http://www.mikroe.com/en/books/keu/01.htm Understanding Electronic Components]

[[Category:Analog circuits]]

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Padovan polynomials - Revision history

en>Hjilderda at 16:08, 25 November 2010