Temperature Dependence Resistivity
Easyphysics
Resistivity of intrinsic semiconductors with temperature generally?
Select the correct option:
Solution
Incorrect! Answer:
Decreases
- Conduction Physics: Resistivity depends on the carrier concentration (n) and mobility (μ).
- Intrinsic Behavior: In a semiconductor, n increases exponentially with temperature because of thermal generation of electron-hole pairs (n∝e−Eg/2kT).
- Dominating Effect: While mobility decreases slightly due to lattice scattering, the massive increase in carrier density n dominates.
- Result: As temperature rises, conductivity increases, which means resistivity decreases.
- Comparison: Metals have a positive temperature coefficient of resistance (resistance increases), while semiconductors have a negative temperature coefficient.
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About This Question
- Subject
- physics
- Chapter
- semiconductor devices
- Topic
- temperature dependence resistivity
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Year
- 2025
Solution
Correct Answer:
Decreases
- Conduction Physics: Resistivity depends on the carrier concentration (n) and mobility (μ).
- Intrinsic Behavior: In a semiconductor, n increases exponentially with temperature because of thermal generation of electron-hole pairs (n∝e−Eg/2kT).
- Dominating Effect: While mobility decreases slightly due to lattice scattering, the massive increase in carrier density n dominates.
- Result: As temperature rises, conductivity increases, which means resistivity decreases.
- Comparison: Metals have a positive temperature coefficient of resistance (resistance increases), while semiconductors have a negative temperature coefficient.
This easy difficulty physics question is from the chapter semiconductor devices, covering the topic of temperature dependence resistivity. It appeared in the 2025 exam.
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