In an NTC (Negative Temperature Coefficient) type sensor, what happens as the temperature increases?

In an NTC (Negative Temperature Coefficient) sensor, as the temperature increases, the resistance decreases. This characteristic is fundamental to the operation of NTC thermistors, which are commonly used in temperature sensing applications.

The principle behind this behavior involves the material properties of the thermistor. As the temperature rises, more charge carriers (typically electrons) are available for conduction within the material. This increase in charge carriers decreases the resistivity of the material, thus reducing its resistance.

This unique property allows NTC sensors to be effective for temperature measurements and control systems, as the decrease in resistance with increasing temperature can be easily monitored and translated into a corresponding temperature reading. In practical applications, this behavior can be utilized in devices to initiate cooling mechanisms or adjust heating levels when certain temperature thresholds are reached.