What happens to the conductivity of...

Question 1 / 270707lUqcGhoCWs2nMkCggW0

Question 1 of 270707lUqcGhoCWs2nMkCggW0

What happens to the conductivity of photoconductive material when light shines on it?

Question 1 of 27070

What happens to the conductivity of photoconductive material when light shines on it?

🔍 Key Concepts

• Photoconductive material and how it responds to light • Relationship between incident light (photons) and movement of charge carriers (electrons/holes) • Difference between dark conditions and illuminated conditions for a photoconductor

💭 Think About

• Think about what extra light (photons) does to the electrons in a photoconductive material—does it free more charge carriers or trap them? • Compare how easily current can flow through the material in the dark versus when it is exposed to light. • If more charge carriers are available, what happens to the material’s resistance, and what does that imply about conductivity?

✅ Before You Answer

• Recall that conductivity is the opposite of resistance: high resistance = low conductivity, low resistance = high conductivity. • Make sure you are thinking specifically about photoconductive materials, not just any semiconductor or resistor. • Ask yourself: in light, does the material allow more current or less current to flow for the same voltage? That tells you what happens to conductivity.

Question 1 of 27070

What happens to the conductivity of photoconductive material when light shines on it?

It increases .

It decreases.

It stays the same.

It becomes temperature dependent.