Resistivity Temperature Quiz: Test Material Conductivity Changes

Grade 10th

Reviewed by Ekaterina Yukhnovich

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By Thames

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| Questions: 20 | Updated: Mar 13, 2026

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1. Impurities in a metal generally increase resistivity by increasing scattering.

True

False

Concept: defect scattering. Impurities and defects disrupt the lattice and scatter electrons. This typically increases resistivity compared with a purer metal.

Explanation

Concept: defect scattering. Impurities and defects disrupt the lattice and scatter electrons. This typically increases resistivity compared with a purer metal.

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About This Quiz

Resistivity Temperature Quiz: Test Material Conductivity Changes - Quiz

This assessment explores the relationship between resistivity and temperature, evaluating key concepts such as material conductivity changes. It is essential for learners in physics or engineering, helping them understand how temperature variations affect the electrical properties of materials.

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2. Which statement best summarises temperature effects?

Resistivity never changes in any material

Metals usually increase resistivity with temperature; semiconductors often decrease

All materials decrease resistivity with temperature

Temperature only affects voltage

Concept: common trends. While details vary, metals and semiconductors often show opposite temperature trends. This helps identify material type and design sensors.

Explanation

Concept: common trends. While details vary, metals and semiconductors often show opposite temperature trends. This helps identify material type and design sensors.

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3. In some devices, temperature-dependent resistivity can be useful for limiting current automatically.

True

False

Concept: self-regulation. If resistance increases with temperature, rising current heats the material and increases resistance, which can reduce current. This provides a stabilising effect in some components.

Explanation

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4. A thermistor used in electronics often exploits the fact that its resistivity:

Never changes

Changes strongly with temperature

Depends only on length

Is always zero

Concept: sensor behaviour. Thermistors are designed to respond to temperature changes. Their resistance change can be measured and converted into temperature.

Explanation

Concept: sensor behaviour. Thermistors are designed to respond to temperature changes. Their resistance change can be measured and converted into temperature.

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5. Many metals have a positive temperature coefficient of resistivity, meaning resistivity ______ with temperature.

Concept: temperature coefficient sign. 'Positive coefficient' means upward trend with temperature. This is typical for many pure metals.

Explanation

Concept: temperature coefficient sign. 'Positive coefficient' means upward trend with temperature. This is typical for many pure metals.

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6. A circuit that draws high current through a moderate resistance can produce large heating.

True

False

Concept: (i^2r) dependence. Heating power scales with the square of current. That means doubling current quadruples heating for the same resistance.

Explanation

Concept: (i^2r) dependence. Heating power scales with the square of current. That means doubling current quadruples heating for the same resistance.

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7. Which is a correct statement about resistive heating?

It violates energy conservation

Electrical energy is converted into thermal energy in the conductor

It removes charge from the circuit

It lowers resistivity automatically

Concept: energy conversion. Resistive heating is simply energy transformation from electrical to thermal. It follows conservation of energy.

Explanation

Concept: energy conversion. Resistive heating is simply energy transformation from electrical to thermal. It follows conservation of energy.

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8. A reason resistivity tables specify temperature (like 20°C) is that:

Resistivity depends on colour

Resistivity depends on temperature

Resistivity depends on battery type

Resistivity is always the same

Concept: temperature dependence. Resistivity values change as materials heat or cool. Tables use standard temperatures so values are comparable.

Explanation

Concept: temperature dependence. Resistivity values change as materials heat or cool. Tables use standard temperatures so values are comparable.

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9. Superconductors have extremely low resistivity, often treated as zero below a critical temperature.

True

False

Concept: superconductivity. In the superconducting state, resistance drops dramatically and current can persist without a voltage drop. This is a special low-temperature phenomenon.

Explanation

Concept: superconductivity. In the superconducting state, resistance drops dramatically and current can persist without a voltage drop. This is a special low-temperature phenomenon.

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10. Which would likely have higher resistivity (all else equal)?

Very pure copper

Copper with many impurities

A perfect crystal at low temperature

A superconducting material below its critical temperature

Concept: purity matters. More impurities usually increase scattering, raising resistivity. Superconductors below critical temperature have (approximately) zero resistivity.

Explanation

Concept: purity matters. More impurities usually increase scattering, raising resistivity. Superconductors below critical temperature have (approximately) zero resistivity.

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11. For most metals, as temperature increases, resistivity usually:

Decreases

Increases

Stays constant

Becomes negative

Concept: metals and temperature. Hotter metals have more lattice vibration, which increases electron scattering. This raises resistivity and thus resistance.

Explanation

Concept: metals and temperature. Hotter metals have more lattice vibration, which increases electron scattering. This raises resistivity and thus resistance.

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12. The property 'how easily a material allows current' is ______, which is the inverse of resistivity.

Concept: conductivity vs resistivity. Conductivity indicates ease of charge flow. High conductivity corresponds to low resistivity.

Explanation

Concept: conductivity vs resistivity. Conductivity indicates ease of charge flow. High conductivity corresponds to low resistivity.

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13. If a wire’s temperature rises and its resistivity increases, then for the same applied voltage its current generally:

Increases

Decreases

Stays the same

Becomes infinite

Concept: ohm’s law reasoning. Higher resistance means less current for the same voltage (since (i=v/r)). This is a basic circuit consequence of temperature effects.

Explanation

Concept: ohm’s law reasoning. Higher resistance means less current for the same voltage (since (i=v/r)). This is a basic circuit consequence of temperature effects.

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14. Using thicker power cables helps reduce heating losses because it lowers resistance.

True

False

Concept: geometry reduces losses. Larger cross-sectional area reduces resistance for the same material and length. Lower resistance reduces (i^2r) heating losses.

Explanation

Concept: geometry reduces losses. Larger cross-sectional area reduces resistance for the same material and length. Lower resistance reduces (i^2r) heating losses.

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15. A practical consequence of resistive heating in wires is:

Wires cool down automatically

Power is lost as heat

Current becomes negative

Voltage is created from nothing

Concept: joule heating. Electrical energy converts to thermal energy when current flows through resistance. This is why wires warm up and why power transmission tries to minimise resistance.

Explanation

Concept: joule heating. Electrical energy converts to thermal energy when current flows through resistance. This is why wires warm up and why power transmission tries to minimise resistance.

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16. Which is the best explanation for metal resistivity increasing with temperature?

Electrons move faster so they collide less

More lattice vibrations cause more scattering of electrons

Protons move through the wire

The wire becomes longer instantly

Concept: scattering model. Increased vibration disrupts electron motion and shortens mean free path. This increases resistivity.

Explanation

Concept: scattering model. Increased vibration disrupts electron motion and shortens mean free path. This increases resistivity.

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17. A filament lamp’s resistance is lower when the filament is cold than when it is hot.

True

False

Concept: hot filament has higher resistivity. Tungsten’s resistivity increases with temperature, so resistance rises as the filament heats. This is why inrush current can be large when first switched on.

Explanation

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18. Materials whose resistance drops strongly as temperature rises are often used as temperature sensors called ______.

Concept: temperature-dependent resistors. Thermistors are designed to change resistance significantly with temperature. They allow temperature to be inferred from resistance.

Explanation

Concept: temperature-dependent resistors. Thermistors are designed to change resistance significantly with temperature. They allow temperature to be inferred from resistance.

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19. In many semiconductors, as temperature increases, resistivity often:

Increases

Decreases

Stays constant

Becomes infinite

Concept: semiconductor temperature behaviour. Heating can free more charge carriers in semiconductors. More carriers usually means lower resistivity.

Explanation

Concept: semiconductor temperature behaviour. Heating can free more charge carriers in semiconductors. More carriers usually means lower resistivity.

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20. Heating a metal wire tends to increase its resistance.

True

False

Concept: resistance follows resistivity. If the material’s resistivity increases with temperature, resistance increases too (for fixed geometry). This is often noticeable in filament bulbs.

Explanation

Concept: resistance follows resistivity. If the material’s resistivity increases with temperature, resistance increases too (for fixed geometry). This is often noticeable in filament bulbs.

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