Temperature Coefficient and Carriers in Doped Semiconductors – Rankers Physics

Properties of Semiconductors: Practice Problem & Solution

Assertion (A): The temperature coefficient of resistance is positive for p-type semiconductors and negative for n-type semiconductors. Reason (R): The effective charge carriers in p-type semiconductors are electrons and in n-type semiconductors are holes.  
Both (A) & (R) are true and the (R) is the correct explanation of the (A)
Both (A) & (R) are true but the (R) is not the correct explanation of the (A)
(A) is true but (R) is false
Both (A) and (R) are false

Short Solution (Best for NEET):

To solve this problem, we apply the core principles of Properties of Semiconductors. Understanding the underlying formula is key to arriving at the correct answer below:

All semiconductors (p-type or n-type) have a negative temperature coefficient of resistance, so (A) is false. In p-type semiconductors, majority carriers are holes, and in n-type, they are electrons. Reason (R) swaps these, so it is also false. Thus, both (A) and (R) are false.

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