What happens to the resistance of a conductor as its temperature increases?

As the temperature of a conductor increases, the resistance typically increases as well. This phenomenon is primarily due to the behavior of the atoms within the conductor. At higher temperatures, the thermal energy causes the atoms to vibrate more intensely. This increased motion results in more frequent collisions between the moving charge carriers (such as electrons in a metal) and the vibrating atoms.

These collisions impede the flow of electrons, effectively increasing the resistance of the material. This relationship can be observed in many metallic conductors, which generally show an increase in resistance with rising temperature. Therefore, understanding this fundamental principle is crucial in various applications, including in electrical circuits and systems where temperature variations can significantly impact performance.

In contrast, some materials, such as semiconductors, exhibit different behaviors at varying temperatures, but for typical metallic conductors, the increase in resistance with temperature is a well-established rule.