Question

Explain what you understand by temperature coefficient.

Answer 1

Temperature coefficient:

1. The temperature coefficient is the relative change in resistance per degree change in temperature.
2. If $R_1$ and $R_2$ are initial and final resistances, and $T_1$and $T_2$ are initial and final temperatures, then temperature coefficient can be given as, $T_C=\frac{R_2-R_1}{R_1\left(T_2-T_1\right)}$.
3. The unit of temperature coefficient is parts per million per degree centigrade, or $ppm/°C$.
4. Hence, the temperature coefficient gives us a measure of the impact of change in temperature on the performance of the resistor.
5. For example, let us consider a copper wire and an aluminum wire. The temperature coefficient of aluminum is greater than copper, so for the same resistance on both wires, the temperature rise for aluminum will be more than copper.