What happens to the conductivity of a semiconductor as temperature increases?

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Q: What happens to the conductivity of a semiconductor as temperature increases?

Solution: The conductivity of a semiconductor increases with temperature due to the increased thermal energy that frees more charge carriers.

Steps: 7

Step 1: Understand what conductivity means. Conductivity is how well a material can carry electric current.
Step 2: Know what a semiconductor is. A semiconductor is a material that can conduct electricity, but not as well as a metal.
Step 3: Learn about charge carriers. In semiconductors, charge carriers are usually electrons and holes (the absence of an electron).
Step 4: Recognize the role of temperature. When the temperature of a semiconductor increases, it gives energy to the atoms in the material.
Step 5: See what happens to charge carriers. The added energy helps some electrons break free from their atoms, creating more charge carriers.
Step 6: Connect the dots. More charge carriers mean that the semiconductor can conduct electricity better.
Step 7: Conclude. Therefore, as the temperature increases, the conductivity of a semiconductor also increases.