Why is Ohm's law useful if most real loads are non-linear?

[derek181]

Ohm's law only applies to linear circuits. If most loads in life are non-linear, what use is ohm's law?

 

[Vanadium 50]

Hooke's Law is only good for perfectly elastic and massless springs. What use is it?
PV=nRT is only good for ideal gasses, of which there are none. What use is it?

Get the idea?

 

[derek181]

So we model non ideal systems in an idea way and neglect the small error?

 

[analogdesign]

Why do you think most loads are non-linear? Most loads are largely resistive. Even when the output of a circuit is driving a complex impedance there are plenty of linear elements to analyze in there.

 

[UltrafastPED]

You can model the non-linear circuit by taking it in stages: the switch is open (mechanical or transistor) - now carry out a linear analysis. The switch closes - use Laplace transform theory to find the transient signal.

This plus the final state of the previous analysis (states of capacitors and inductors) allows your to carry out an analysis of the next stage. Repeat ad nauseum. This is what a good Spice program does. The limitations are based on the models for the individual properties of the components being used - wrong specs, wrong results.

Oh - and if you want perfection, then you must know the lengths of wires, the resistivity, and the qualities of all of the connections, soldered and unsoldered.