I-V characteristic
A graph of current versus potential difference for a component, showing how current responds to applied voltage. Different components (ohmic resistors, filament bulbs, diodes, thermistors) have characteristic shapes revealing their electrical behaviour.
Real World
Semiconductor manufacturers like TSMC test every chip by sweeping voltage and measuring the resulting current; the I-V curve reveals immediately whether transistors are ohmic, saturated, or faulty.
Exam Focus
When sketching I-V graphs, label axes with units and mark key features (threshold voltage, gradient) — unlabelled sketches rarely earn full marks.
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