YARA INTERNATIONAL

SCHOOL RIYADH

AISSCE – 2023-2024

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS

CLASS XII

INVESTIGATORY PROJECT

Submitted by Mohamed Abshar Submitted to Mr. Arun

 Topic of the Project

“Study of Temperature effect on resistivity of

Insulators, Semi-Conductors, Conductors”

PHYSICS INVESTIGATORY PROJECT

(2023-2024)
 PHYSICS PROJECT

CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the project entitled “Study of

Temperature effect of Resistance” is a bonafide work
done by Mohamed Abshar of Grade XII during the
academic year 2023-24.
Submitted for AISSCE Physics Practical examination held
on _________ at Yara International school,
Riyadh.

DATE:

PRINCIPAL External Examiner Internal Examiner

 DECLARATION OF PLAGIARISM

I would like to expressly assure the fact that

this project was solely drafted, edited and produced
by me with the help of legal sources, the contents in
this report are entirely prepared by us with reference
to legitimate sources from the web and from the
official NCERT Physics textbook and Physics lab
Manual of Grade XII. And I would also like to
assure that no use of paid or unpaid third party
services such as ghostwriter, was used to make this
project. Thus I hereby declare that no plagiarism was
involved in the making of this project.
 ACKNOWLEDMENT

I warmly acknowledge the continuous

encouragement offered by our dear Principal Miss.Asima
Saleem. We also extend our hearty thanks and gratitude to
the school management for providing us with enough
facilities and tools available in the campus which greatly
aided us in completing this report successfully.

I am highly indebted to our

Physics teacher – Mr. Arun for his supervision, support
and for providing necessary information and guidelines
on this project. His constructive advice and constant
support has been responsible for the completion of this
project report.

I would also like to express our utmost love and

gratitude to our parents for their valuable suggestions and
support to carry out this project.

Last not but not least I thank all those who have helped to
complete this report directly or indirectly.
 PROJECT PLAN

Prepared by:

• MOHAMED ABSHAR

Class: XII
School: YARA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

Name of the Project: Study of Temperature Effect on

Resistivity of Insulators, Semi-conductors, Conductors

Teacher In Charge: Mr. Arun

Date of Completion: 1 week

Date of Submission: / / 23
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Topic Page No

Introduction 1
Graph 2
Temperature Coefficient of Conductor 3
Relationship Between Temperature
3
and Resistance
Temperature Effect on Conductors 4
Temperature Effect on Semi-Conductors 5
Temperature Effect on Insulators 6
Conclusion 7
Bibliography 8
 INTRODUCTION

Resistivity is known as specific electrical

resistance or volume resistivity. It can be defined
as the intrinsic property of a given material that
shows how it opposes the flow of current. The
resistivity is expressed as ρ = R A/L.The unit of
resistivity is ohm meter. The resistivity of materials
depend on the temperature. ρ t = ρ0 [1 + α (T – T0)
is the equation that shows the relation between the
temperature and the resistivity of a material. In the
equation ρ 0 is the resistivity at a standard
temperature, ρt is the resistivity at t 0 C, T0 is the
reference temperature and α is the temperature co –
efficient of resistivity. Insulators resistivity is
influenced by temperature. The resistivity normally
rises along with the temperature. this is because more
collisions between electrons and atoms result from
the higher thermal energy, which reduces the current's
flow.

1
TEMPERATURE DEPENDANCE OF RESISTIVITY
FOR CONDUCTORS, SEMI-CONDUCTORS, AND
INSULATORS

SOME ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS

SOME ELECTRICAL INSULATORS

2
Temperature Coefficient of Resistance:
The change in electrical resistance of a substance with respect
to each degree of temperature change is known as the
temperature coefficient of resistance. As a result, the process of
electron collision within the material determines the electrical
resistance of conductors like gold, aluminum, silver, copper,
etc. The process of electron collision speeds up and becomes
more rapid as temperature rises. As a result, the resistance will
climb as the conductor's temperature rises.

Relationship Between Temperature and

Resistance:
Let us consider a conductor whose resistance at 0°C is R0 and the
resistance at a temperature T°C is RT. The relation between
temperature and resistances R0 and RT is approximately given as,
RT = R0 [1+ α (T-T0)]

RT = R0 [1+ α (∆T)]

Therefore, it is evident from the equation above that the three key
parameters listed below determine how electrical resistance of any
substance changes as a function of temperature:

• The value of resistance at an initial temperature.

• The rise in temperature.
• The temperature coefficient of resistance α.

3
Temperature Effect on Conductors:
Metallic materials, often known as conductors, provide very
minimal resistance to the current passing through them. The
resistivity of copper and silver is significantly lower than that of
aluminum. The resistance of the conductor increases with an
increase of temperature. Due to the increasing collision between
electrons and atoms as temperature rises, the conductor's
resistance rises. The movement of the electrons is hampered by
the collision of the electrons with the atom. As a result, the
resistance grows. The metallic material has a positive temperature
coefficient of resistance. The metallic substances have a positive
temperature coefficient of resistance. The resistance of metals
increases linearly with an increase in temperature as shown in the
below-given graph.

4
Temperature Effect on Semi-Conductors:
Semiconductors are the substance that provides mild resistance.
Examples include silicon and germanium. The temperature
coefficient of resistance of the semiconductor material is
negative. With an increase in temperature, semiconductor
materials' resistance reduces. According to the graph below, a
semiconductor's resistivity decreases exponentially as temperature
rises.

similar to conductors, vibrations of atoms increases resistance

whose effect is negligible when compared to the effect due to an
increase in the number of free electrons. Therefore, the
resistance of a semiconductor decreases when the temperature is
increased (i.e., negative temperature coefficient of resistance).

5
Temperature Effect on Insulators:

Insulating materials are described as having an extremely high

resistance and limiting the flow of electrons. To stop leakage
current, the insulating material is frequently used in electrical
applications. Rubber, paper, glass, wood, plastic, mica, porcelain,
polyester, SF6, mineral oil, nitrogen gas, and other materials are
examples of insulating materials. When the bond between the
nucleus and the electrons loosens, the forbidden energy gap
between the valance and conduction band minimizes. Hence
when the temperature of an insulator is increased, there is a
probability of creating free electrons and thus conduction of
electric current. at high temperatures insulators behave as the
conductor. Therefore, an increase in the temperature of an
insulator decreases its resistance and vice-versa which refers to
the Negative Temperature Coefficient of Resistance. Insulators
have high resistivity due to the availability of less number of free
electrons. The resistivity of insulators lies in the range of
108 ohm-meter to 1020 ohm-meter. Here are some insulators with
their resistances:

Material Resistivity
Wood 1014 - 1016

Glass 1-10000 x 109

Hard rubber 1-100 x 1013

Quartz (fused) 7.5 x 1017

6
 Conclusion
• The resistivity is the intrinsic property of a given material
that shows how it opposes the flow of current.
• RT = R0 [1+ α (T-T0)] is the equation that shows the relation
between the temperature and the resistivity of a material.
• For metals or conductors, when the temperature increases
and the resistivity of the metal increases and thus current
flow in the metal is decreased. They have a positive
temperature co – efficient. The value α is positive.
• For semiconductors, when the temperature is increased the
conductivity of the material is increased. It means that the
resistivity of the material is decreased and so the current
flow is increased. For semiconductors they have a negative
temperature co – efficient. So the value of temperature co –
efficient of resistivity, α is negative.
• For insulators the conductivity of the material is increased,
when the temperature is increased. When the conductivity of
the material is increased, we know that the resistivity
decreases and the current flow thus increases. So some
insulators at room temperatures changes to conductors at
high temperature. For insulators they have a negative
temperature co – efficient. The value of temperature co –
efficient of resistivity, α is negative.
• The materials like nichrome, manganin and constantan does
not depend much on temperature. So the change in the
resistivity of the material during temperature change is
negligible.

7
 Bibliography

• Ncert Textbook (Physics)

• Class XII Physics Lab Manual

• https://Byjus.com

• https://www.electricalvolt.com/2022/02/effect-of-
temperature-on-conductor-semiconductor-and-
insulator/

• https://www.electricaldeck.com/2023/07/effect-of-
temperature-on-resistance.html