Superconductors are materials that can conduct electricity without resistance from "summary" of The World of Physics 2nd Edition by John Avison
Superconductors are materials that can conduct electricity without resistance. This means that when an electric current is passed through a superconductor, there is no loss of energy due to resistance, unlike in ordinary conductors. The absence of resistance allows superconductors to carry large currents without any energy loss, making them highly efficient for a variety of applications. The phenomenon of superconductivity was first discovered in 1911 by Dutch physicist Heike Kamerlingh Onnes, who found that the resistance of mercury dropped to zero when cooled to very low temperatures. Since then, scientists have discovered many other materials that exhibit superconducting properties at even higher temperatures. One of the key characteristics of superconductors is their critical temperature, above which they lose their superconducting abilities. This critical temperature varies depending on the material, with some superconductors requiring extremely low temperatures close to absolute zero, while others can superconduct at higher temperatures. Another important property of superconductors is their ability to expel magnetic fields, a phenomenon known as the Meissner effect. When a superconductor is cooled below its critical temperature in the presence of a magnetic field, it will repel the field lines and become perfectly diamagnetic, effectively shielding the interior from any external magnetic influences. Superconductors have a wide range of practical applications, from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines in hospitals to high-speed magnetic levitation (maglev) trains. The energy efficiency and high current-carrying capacity of superconductors make them ideal for these and many other technological advancements. Despite their many advantages, superconductors also present challenges such as the high cost of cooling them to their critical temperatures and the limited range of temperatures at which they can superconduct. However, ongoing research in the field of superconductivity continues to push the boundaries of what is possible with these remarkable materials.
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