[Physics] Does the thermal expansion of a conductor contribute to its change in resistance when it is heated

electric-circuitselectrical-resistanceelectricitythermodynamics

We know that the resistance of a conductor varies with a change in temperature and we are taught that this change occurs due to the change in resistivity of the material but does the thermal expansion of a conductor also affect its resistance?

Best Answer

For copper the temperature coefficient of resistivity is $3.9\times 10^{-3} \text{K}^{-1} $ and the temperature coefficient of thermal linear expansion is $1.6\times 10^{-4} \text{K}^{-1} $. They differ by a factor of about 24 so a change in temperature will cause a bigger change in resistance than in the linear dimensions of copper.

Resistance is given by $\frac{\rho L}{A}$ where $\rho$ is the resistivity, $L$ is the length and $A$ is the area of the copper.
Any thermal expansion will cause a bigger fraction change in the area $\propto \text{linear dimension}^2$ than in the length $\propto \text{linear dimension}$. So as a result of thermal expansion the resistance of the copper will decrease when the temperature.

So the net effect will be an increase in the resistance of a specimen of copper.

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