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Superconductivity is a phenomenon that occurs when a substance (typically metallic or ceramic) reaches its "critical temperature" (Tc) and loses all electrical resistance. This occurrence takes place at extremely low temperatures, which renders much of the scientific potential difficult to apply to real life situations.

Scientists are currently working on developing superconductors that are closer to room temperature, an improvement which would make superconductors much more important to everybody. Superconductors have the potential to carry an electric charge across an infinite distance without losing any energy whatsoever, and also block out magnetic fields because of the Meissner Effect. If controlled in room temperature, it would be possible to transport electricity from a power plant on Earth to a residential area on Mars, create lightning-fast computer circuits with no resistance, develop weapons such as quickly-reloadable rail guns, and transportation possibilities such as biohazard-free levitating trains.

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Q: What is the importance of superconductors?
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Related questions

Which has the lowest resistance semiconductors superconductors insulator conductor?

superconductors, they have no resistance.


Why superconductors are not used often in everyday activities?

Because at present all superconductors must be super-cooled in a coolant such as liquid nitrogen to become superconductors.


What are most modern high temperature superconductors made of?

Resistance decreases with the decrease of temperature. Superconductors are made by lowering the temperature.


Why are scientists trying to make superconductors that can work at warmer temperatures?

Because refrigerating superconductors to the cryogenic temperatures needed by current ones is expensive, severely limiting the applications they are used in.Metallic superconductors need cooling to the temperature of liquid helium.Copper oxide ceramic superconductors need cooling to the temperature of liquid nitrogen.Room temperature superconductors, if they exist, would need little or no cooling.


What is the definition of low temperature supercoductors?

In a way, all currently existing superconductors are "low-temperature", but some more so than others. The traditional superconductors work up to about 20 K (or minus 253 Centigrade); more recent "high-temperature superconductors" work up to 100 K or so. 100 K is still minus 173 Centigrade, but it is much "hotter" than the traditional superconductors. The new "high-temperature" superconductors apparently work different than the old-fashioned ones; at least, the theory that explains the traditional superconductors fails to explain how the new superconductors work.


How are superconductors different from conductors?

In superconductors, no electricity is wasted because there is no resistance to the flow of electrons. In conductors any electricity not used, is wasted.


What has the author Franklin Curtis Mason written?

Franklin Curtis Mason has written: 'The tunnel effect in superconductors' -- subject(s): Superconductors


What has the author Anatoli Larkin written?

Anatoli Larkin has written: 'Theory of fluctuations in superconductors' -- subject(s): Fluctuations (Physics), Superconductors


How are superconductors different from insulators?

Superconductors are materials that let current or electricity pass through them. Insulators are materials that don't allow current or electricity to pass through them. Superconductors are mostly all metals. Insulators are wood, plastic, and paper.


What has the author Weonwoo Kim written?

Weonwoo Kim has written: 'Doping experiments on magnetic heavy fermion superconductors' -- subject(s): Superconductors


What do you call materials with the resistance of ohms?

superconductors


What materials don't have any resistance?

superconductors