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Why does resistance increase with temperature in most conductors?

Resistance increases with temperature in most conductors because heat causes the atoms to vibrate more, disrupting the flow of electrons.

In more detail, conductors are materials that allow the free flow of electrons from one particle to another. The most common example of a conductor is metal. In a metal, the outermost electrons of the atoms belong to a 'cloud' of delocalised electrons. These electrons are free to move within the metal, which is what allows an electric current to flow.

However, when the temperature of the metal increases, the atoms in the metal start to vibrate more. This is because heating the metal provides energy to the atoms, which they convert into kinetic energy - the energy of movement. The more the atoms vibrate, the more they disrupt the path of the electrons trying to move through the metal. This makes it harder for the electrons to flow, which increases the resistance.

This is why, in most conductors, resistance increases as the temperature increases. It's also worth noting that this is a general rule and there are exceptions. For example, in some materials known as superconductors, resistance can actually decrease as temperature increases. However, these are special cases and for most conductors, the rule holds true.

In summary, the increase in resistance with temperature in most conductors is due to the increased vibration of atoms, which disrupts the flow of electrons and makes it harder for an electric current to pass through. This is a fundamental concept in physics and is important for understanding how electrical circuits work.

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