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A piece of semiconductor is connected in series in a circuit. On increasing the temperature, the current in the circuit will :

  • a)
    cease to flow

  • b)
    increase

  • c)
    remains the same

  • d)
    decrease

Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?
Verified Answer
A piece of semiconductor is connected in series in a circuit. On incre...
The circuit current will increase because as temperature of the semiconductor material increases , its resistance decreases .
The  correct answer is: increase
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A piece of semiconductor is connected in series in a circuit. On incre...


Hence option B is correct
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A piece of semiconductor is connected in series in a circuit. On incre...
Introduction:
Semiconductor materials are widely used in electronic circuits due to their unique electrical properties. One important property of semiconductors is that their conductivity changes with temperature. In this case, we are considering the effect of temperature change on the current flowing through a circuit containing a semiconductor material.

Explanation:
When the temperature of a semiconductor material is raised, the circuit current will increase. This can be explained by the following points:

1. Bandgap:
Semiconductors have a specific energy band structure, consisting of a valence band and a conduction band. The energy gap between these two bands is known as the bandgap. At low temperatures, the electrons in the valence band do not have sufficient energy to overcome the bandgap and move into the conduction band. As a result, the current flow is limited.

2. Electron Excitation:
When the temperature increases, the thermal energy of the electrons also increases. This additional energy enables more electrons to gain enough energy to cross the bandgap and enter the conduction band. As a result, more charge carriers (electrons) become available for conduction, leading to an increase in the circuit current.

3. Carrier Mobility:
The mobility of charge carriers in a semiconductor is another important factor. Carrier mobility refers to the ease with which charge carriers can move through the material. At higher temperatures, the lattice vibrations in the semiconductor increase, which can scatter the charge carriers and reduce their mobility. This scattering effect can lead to a slight decrease in the overall current flow.

4. Temperature Coefficient:
Semiconductor materials have a temperature coefficient for their conductivity. This coefficient determines how the conductivity of the material changes with temperature. In most cases, the temperature coefficient for semiconductors is positive, indicating that the conductivity increases with temperature.

5. Overall Effect:
Taking all these factors into account, when the temperature of the semiconductor material is raised, the increased thermal energy and the increased number of charge carriers result in a higher conductivity. This, in turn, leads to an increase in the circuit current.

Conclusion:
In summary, when a piece of semiconductor material is introduced in a circuit and the temperature is raised, the circuit current will increase. This is due to the increased thermal energy and the increased number of charge carriers available for conduction.
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A piece of semiconductor is connected in series in a circuit. On increasing the temperature, the current in the circuit will :a)cease to flowb)increasec)remains the samed)decreaseCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?
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