Physics Current Electricity ETEA 2016
PMDC Verified Question 101 of 112
The temperature coefficient of resistance of a semiconductor is:
A
Positive
B
Negative
C
Imaginary
D
Zero
Tap any option to test your recall and reveal the step-by-step Propolis autopsy.

Propolis Cognitive Error Autopsy

Official Correct Choice:
Option B: Negative
Concept:

The behavior of resistance with respect to temperature distinguishes conductors from semiconductors.

Solution:

  • In semiconductors, increasing temperature provides enough thermal energy to break covalent bonds, creating more free electrons and holes.


  • This massive increase in charge carriers causes overall resistance to drop.


  • Since resistance decreases as temperature increases, the temperature coefficient \( (\alpha) \) is mathematically negative.


Why other options are incorrect:

  • Opt A: Metals (conductors) have positive coefficients.


  • Opt C & D: A coefficient cannot be imaginary in this context, and it is strictly non-zero because temperature significantly affects semiconductors.

Quality & Fidelity Assurance: Every question on BeambePrep is rigorously curated against the official PMDC syllabus with zero filler, zero out-of-syllabus content, and zero typos. When an authentic past paper originally contained a historical mistake or ambiguity from the examining board (such as UHS or NUMS), BeambePrep faithfully reflects the original paper while detailing the nuance and scientific consensus in the autopsy above.

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