Temperature Coefficient of Electrical Resistance
See also: Table of materials' resistivitiesThe temperature dependence of electrical resistance and thus of electronic devices (wires, resistors) has to be taken into account when constructing devices and circuits. The temperature dependence of conductors is to a great degree linear and can be described by the approximation below.
where
just corresponds to the specific resistance temperature coefficient at a specified reference value (normally T = 0 °C)
That of a semiconductor is however exponential:
where is defined as the cross sectional area and and are coefficients determining the shape of the function and the value of resistivity at a given temperature.
For both, is referred to as the resistance temperature coefficient.
This property is used in devices such as thermistors.
Read more about this topic: Temperature Coefficient
Famous quotes containing the words temperature, electrical and/or resistance:
“The siren south is well enough, but New York, at the beginning of March, is a hoyden we would not care to miss—a drafty wench, her temperature up and down, full of bold promises and dust in the eye.”
—E.B. (Elwyn Brooks)
“Few speeches which have produced an electrical effect on an audience can bear the colourless photography of a printed record.”
—Archibald Philip Primrose, 5th Earl Rosebery (1847–1929)
“The free man is a warrior.—How is freedom measured among individuals, among peoples? According to the resistance that must be overcome, according to the trouble it takes to stay on top. The highest type of free man must be sought where the highest resistance is constantly overcome: five steps away from tyranny, close to the threshold of the danger of servitude.”
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)