As temperature increases, what happens to the resistance of an NTC thermistor?

As temperature increases, what happens to the resistance of an NTC thermistor?

• A. Decreases
• B. Increases
• C. Remains the same
• D. Fluctuates

Answer: (A)

NTC thermistors decrease their resistance as temperature rises. This negative temperature coefficient means that as heat increases, charge carriers move more easily and the material conducts better, lowering resistance. The relationship is nonlinear, often captured by formulas like R(T) = R0 exp[B(1/T - 1/T0)], reflecting the rapid drop in resistance with temperature. This property is why rising temperature yields less resistance in an NTC device. If the material were PTC, resistance would increase with temperature; staying the same or fluctuating would not match the typical behavior of an NTC thermistor.

NTC thermistors decrease their resistance as temperature rises. This negative temperature coefficient means that as heat increases, charge carriers move more easily and the material conducts better, lowering resistance. The relationship is nonlinear, often captured by formulas like R(T) = R0 exp[B(1/T - 1/T0)], reflecting the rapid drop in resistance with temperature. This property is why rising temperature yields less resistance in an NTC device. If the material were PTC, resistance would increase with temperature; staying the same or fluctuating would not match the typical behavior of an NTC thermistor.