Ham Radio General Class Practice Test

What will happen to the resistance if the temperature of a resistor is increased?

1. It will change depending on the resistor's reactance coefficient

2. It will stay the same

3. It will change depending on the resistor's temperature coefficient

4. It will become time dependent

The correct answer is: It will change depending on the resistor's temperature coefficient

When the temperature of a resistor is increased, its resistance typically changes based on the resistor's temperature coefficient. Each material has a characteristic temperature coefficient, which indicates how much the resistance of that material changes with temperature. For most metallic conductors, the resistance increases as the temperature rises due to increased lattice vibrations that inhibit the flow of electrons. Conversely, some materials, like semiconductors, may exhibit a decrease in resistance with increasing temperature. Therefore, the correct understanding is that the resistance of a resistor varies with temperature, and this variation is quantified by the resistor's specific temperature coefficient. Understanding this principle is crucial for practical applications in electronics and radio equipment, as temperature can affect performance and reliability.