P3.2.5 - LDRs And Thermistors Flashcards
What is a thermistor?
It’s resistance depends on temperature
What is a thermistor made of?
A semiconducting material such as silicon
What are the characteristics of a semi conductor?
The electrons in their atoms do not need much energy to escape and form a current
Why does the resistance of a thermistor change with temperature?
As you heat the thermistor many electron gain enough energy to escape the atoms of the semiconductor
What is the resistance of thermistors at high and low temperatures?
Low temp = small current = high resistance
High temp = high current = low resistance
What is an LDR?
Light dependent resistor
It’s resistance changes with light intensity
Light causes electrons to be released