Difference between revisions of "Thermistor"
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===About Thermistors=== | ===About Thermistors=== | ||
| − | : 'NTC' '''thermistors''' decrease [[Electrical Resistance|resistance]] as the [[temperature]] increases. | + | : 'NTC' '''thermistors''' decrease [[Electrical Resistance|resistance]] as the [[temperature]] increases. (NTC = Negative Temperature Coefficient.) |
: A '''thermistor''' can be used to control the [[Electrical Current|current]] passing through a [[circuit]]. If the [[Potential Difference|potential difference]] is constant then the [[Electrical Current|current]] decreases as [[temperature]] decreases. | : A '''thermistor''' can be used to control the [[Electrical Current|current]] passing through a [[circuit]]. If the [[Potential Difference|potential difference]] is constant then the [[Electrical Current|current]] decreases as [[temperature]] decreases. | ||
: A '''thermistor''' can be used to control the [[Potential Difference|potential difference]] of another [[Electrical Component|component]] in [[Series Circuit|series]] with it. If the [[temperature]] is decreased then the [[Potential Difference|potential difference]] across other [[Electrical Component|components]] will decrease. | : A '''thermistor''' can be used to control the [[Potential Difference|potential difference]] of another [[Electrical Component|component]] in [[Series Circuit|series]] with it. If the [[temperature]] is decreased then the [[Potential Difference|potential difference]] across other [[Electrical Component|components]] will decrease. | ||
: '''Thermistors''' can be used [[temperature]] sensors. | : '''Thermistors''' can be used [[temperature]] sensors. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===IV Graph=== | ||
| + | {| class="wikitable" | ||
| + | |[[File:IVGraphThermistor.png|center|300px]] | ||
| + | |} | ||
| + | |||
| + | ====Description==== | ||
| + | The '''IV graph''' for an 'NTC' [[thermistor]] shows that: | ||
| + | *At a high [[temperature]] the [[Electrical Current|current]] increases rapidly with the [[Potential Difference|potential difference]] | ||
| + | *At a low [[temperature]] the [[Electrical Current|current]] increases slowly with the [[Potential Difference|potential difference]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ====Explanation==== | ||
| + | : The [[Electrical Resistance|resistance]] of an 'NTC' [[thermistor]] increases as the [[temperature]] decreases. | ||
Revision as of 15:00, 28 February 2019
Contents
Key Stage 4
Meaning
A thermistor is a resistor which changes resistance depending on the temperature.
About Thermistors
- 'NTC' thermistors decrease resistance as the temperature increases. (NTC = Negative Temperature Coefficient.)
- A thermistor can be used to control the current passing through a circuit. If the potential difference is constant then the current decreases as temperature decreases.
- A thermistor can be used to control the potential difference of another component in series with it. If the temperature is decreased then the potential difference across other components will decrease.
- Thermistors can be used temperature sensors.
IV Graph
 |
Description
The IV graph for an 'NTC' thermistor shows that:
- At a high temperature the current increases rapidly with the potential difference
- At a low temperature the current increases slowly with the potential difference.
Explanation
- The resistance of an 'NTC' thermistor increases as the temperature decreases.