Explain the effects of temperature on the conductivity of a material?
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Mar 11
Temperature has a significant impact on the conductivity of a material. In general, as the temperature of a material increases, its conductivity also increases. This is because at higher temperatures, the atoms and molecules in the material have more kinetic energy, which allows them to move more freely and carry charge more effectively.
However, this relationship is not always straightforward. In some materials, such as metals, increasing temperature can actually decrease conductivity. This is because at higher temperatures, the increased thermal vibrations of the atoms can disrupt the flow of electrons, leading to a decrease in conductivity.
In semiconductors, the relationship between temperature and conductivity is more complex. At low temperatures, semiconductors have very low conductivity because most of the electrons are bound in the valence band. As the temperature increases, more electrons are excited into the conduction band, leading to an increase in conductivity.
Overall, the effect of temperature on conductivity depends on the specific material and its properties. In general, however, increasing temperature tends to increase conductivity in most materials.