The resistivity of a material is dependent on which of the following factors?
- AOption (a)
Resistance
- BOption (b)
Area of cross section
- COption (c)
Length
- DOption (d)
Temperature
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Correct answer
Temperature
Why this answer is correct
The correct answer is Temperature
Key Points
- Temperature is the factor on which the resistivity of a material depends.
- Resistivity is a fundamental property of a material that quantifies how strongly it resists or conducts electric current.
- As temperature increases, the resistivity of most conductive materials increases due to increased lattice vibrations, which impede the flow of electrons.
- In some materials, such as semiconductors, resistivity decreases with an increase in temperature due to an increase in charge carriers.
- Understanding the relationship between resistivity and temperature is crucial for designing electrical and electronic systems that operate efficiently under varying thermal conditions.
Additional Information
- Resistance is a property of an object and depends on the object's shape and size, whereas resistivity is a material property and is independent of the object's dimensions.
- The formula for resistance is R = ρ(L/A), where ρ is the resistivity, L is the length, and A is the cross-sectional area.
- For most metals, resistivity increases linearly with temperature and can be expressed as ρ(T) = ρ0[1 + α(T - T0)], where ρ0 is the resistivity at a reference temperature T0 and α is the temperature coefficient of resistivity.
- Materials with low resistivity, such as copper and aluminum, are used as conductors, while materials with high resistivity, such as rubber and glass, are used as insulators.




