In Class 12 physics, understanding the effect of temperature on resistance and resistivity is fundamental to grasping how electrical properties of materials change with varying temperatures. Here’s a detailed explanation:
### **1. Resistance**
**Resistance** (\( R \)) is a measure of how much a material opposes the flow of electric current. It is given by Ohm's Law:
\[ R = \frac{V}{I} \]
where \( V \) is the voltage across the conductor and \( I \) is the current flowing through it.
The resistance of a conductor depends on several factors, including temperature. For most conductors, resistance increases with an increase in temperature. This relationship can be described by the formula:
\[ R_T = R_0 (1 + \alpha \Delta T) \]
where:
- \( R_T \) is the resistance at temperature \( T \),
- \( R_0 \) is the resistance at a reference temperature (usually 0°C),
- \( \alpha \) is the temperature coefficient of resistance,
- \( \Delta T \) is the change in temperature from the reference temperature.
**Explanation**:
- **Conductors (e.g., metals)**: In metals, as temperature increases, the atoms vibrate more intensely, leading to more frequent collisions between electrons and atoms. These collisions impede the flow of electrons, thus increasing the resistance.
- **Semiconductors**: In semiconductors, resistance decreases with an increase in temperature. This is because higher temperatures provide more energy to electrons, allowing more electrons to move from the valence band to the conduction band, thus increasing conductivity.
### **2. Resistivity**
**Resistivity** (\( \rho \)) is an intrinsic property of a material that measures how strongly it resists electrical current. It is related to resistance by:
\[ R = \rho \frac{L}{A} \]
where:
- \( R \) is the resistance,
- \( \rho \) is the resistivity,
- \( L \) is the length of the conductor,
- \( A \) is the cross-sectional area.
The resistivity of a material also changes with temperature, and this relationship is given by:
\[ \rho_T = \rho_0 (1 + \alpha \Delta T) \]
where:
- \( \rho_T \) is the resistivity at temperature \( T \),
- \( \rho_0 \) is the resistivity at a reference temperature,
- \( \alpha \) is the temperature coefficient of resistivity,
- \( \Delta T \) is the change in temperature from the reference temperature.
**Explanation**:
- **Conductors**: For most conductors, the resistivity increases with temperature. This is due to increased lattice vibrations (as discussed above) which cause more collisions and hence more resistance.
- **Semiconductors**: For semiconductors, resistivity decreases with increasing temperature. This is because the thermal energy excites more charge carriers into the conduction band, reducing the resistivity.
### **Summary**
- **In Conductors**: Resistance and resistivity increase with temperature. The relationship is generally linear and can be described by a positive temperature coefficient of resistance.
- **In Semiconductors**: Resistance and resistivity decrease with temperature. The temperature coefficient of resistivity is negative, reflecting the increase in charge carriers with higher temperatures.
Understanding these effects is crucial for designing electronic circuits and systems, as temperature variations can significantly impact performance and reliability.