Temperature Coefficient formula |
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| \( \alpha \;=\; \dfrac{ R_t - R_o }{ R_o \cdot \left( T - T_o \right) } \) | ||
| Symbol | English | Metric |
| \( \alpha \) (Greek symbol alpha) = Temperature Coefficient |
\(^{\circ} F\) |
\(^{\circ} C\) |
| \( R_t \) = Resistance at Temperature \(T\) | \(^{\circ} F\) | \(^{\circ} C\) |
| \( R_o \) = Resistance at Reference Temperature \(T_o\) (usually \(20 \;^{\circ} C\)) | \(^{\circ} F\) | \(^{\circ} C\) |
| \( T \) = Actual Temperature | \(^{\circ} F\) | \(^{\circ} C\) |
| \( T_o \) = Reference Temperature at which the Base Resistance \(R_o\) is Specified | \(^{\circ} F\) | \(^{\circ} C\) |
Temperature coefficient, abbreviated as \( \alpha \) (Greek symbol alpha), describes how a physical property of a material or device changes with temperature. It indicates the rate at which a specific parameter, such as electrical resistance, conductivity, or reaction rate, increases or decreases as the temperature changes. A positive temperature coefficient means the property increases with temperature (for example, the resistance of most metals rises as they get hotter), while a negative temperature coefficient means the property decreases with temperature (as seen in semiconductors or thermistors). Temperature coefficient and temperature coefficient of resistance are not exactly the same, though they are closely related and often used interchangeably in the context of electrical resistance.
