what is linearity?

Question

i am writing a physics report on the use of CCDs and photo film in astronomy, i have done most of it but i am completely stuck on explaining what linearity is. Can someone give me a COMPLETE explanaition of what it is how it works etc. and put it in words that i will understand (cos there are plenty of places i could go if i wanted to be confused). Thanks to anyone that can help, i need it!

Answer 1

Linearity is about describing how the output of a system changes in response to a change in input. You shine a light on a photocell and you get a certain output. If you make the light twice as bright, do you get twice as much output? If you do, then the system is said to be linear, at least over that range.

If you were testing a system, you would do an experiment. You would apply a known input to the system and measure the resulting output. Then you would repeat the measurement for different, increasing values of input. When you had collected a set of readings you would plot a graph, with input along the x axis and output up the y axis. The system is said to be linear over the range where the points that you have plotted can be joined up using a straight line. (Which is where the word comes from!)

The nearer the points lie to a straight line, the better the linearity.

Answer 2

any function is satisfies the linearity means ,it has to satisfy the two
laws.
1. principle of super position
2. principle of homogenity

super position means 'sum of the individual responses is equal to response of the system when they are acting at a time'

Answer 3

linearrity is something that goes together but never met at all...but according to the latest researches....they can meet in a point just once in a time after a long time...

Answer 4

TRY GOOGLE