At zero Kelvin a piece of germanium
A) Has maximum conductivity.
B) Becomes good conductor
C) Becomes semi-conductor
D) Becomes bad conductor
Correct Answer is D) Becomes bad conductor
Explanation
Germanium is a semiconductor material commonly used in electronic devices such as transistors and diodes. At zero Kelvin, the behavior of germanium changes, and it becomes a superconductor. Superconductivity is a phenomenon where a material conducts electricity with zero resistance. This property makes superconductors useful in many applications, such as MRI machines, particle accelerators, and power transmission lines.
At zero Kelvin, a piece of germanium exhibits several interesting properties that are different from its behavior at room temperature.
Zero Kelvin and Germanium
At zero Kelvin, the behavior of germanium changes significantly. Germanium becomes a superconductor, which means that it can conduct electricity without any resistance. This is because the electrons in the material form pairs, known as Cooper pairs, and move through the material without colliding with each other or the lattice structure of the material. This property makes germanium useful in many applications, such as superconducting electronics and energy storage.
Superconductivity and Germanium
Superconductivity is a property of certain materials at low temperatures, where the electrical resistance drops to zero. This property was discovered in 1911 by Heike Kamerlingh Onnes, who observed that mercury’s resistance dropped to zero at 4.2 Kelvin. Since then, many other materials have been discovered to exhibit superconductivity at various temperatures, and researchers continue to explore new materials with this property.
Superconductivity has many practical applications, such as in MRI machines, particle accelerators, and power transmission lines. Superconducting magnets are used in MRI machines to create a strong magnetic field, and particle accelerators use superconducting cavities to accelerate particles. Superconducting power transmission lines can carry more power over longer distances with less energy loss than traditional power lines.
Germanium and Superconductivity
Germanium is not a traditional superconductor and does not exhibit superconductivity at room temperature. However, at zero Kelvin, germanium becomes a superconductor. This property was first observed in 1957 by John Bardeen, Leon Cooper, and Robert Schrieffer, who developed the theory of superconductivity.
The superconductivity in germanium is believed to be due to the interaction between the electrons and the lattice vibrations of the material. At low temperatures, the lattice vibrations decrease, which allows the electrons to move through the material without colliding with the lattice structure.
Applications of Superconducting Germanium
The discovery of superconducting germanium has potential applications in the field of superconducting electronics. Superconducting electronics are used in many applications, such as quantum computing and communication, and microwave detectors.
Superconducting germanium has also been studied for its potential use in energy storage. Superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) systems store energy in a magnetic field, which can be discharged quickly when needed. These systems have the potential to store large amounts of energy with minimal energy loss, making them useful for applications such as power grid stabilization.
Conclusion
In conclusion, germanium is a semiconductor material commonly used in electronic devices such as transistors and diodes. At zero Kelvin, germanium exhibits superconductivity, which makes it useful in many applications, such as superconducting electronics and energy storage. The discovery of superconducting germanium has the potential to revolutionize many fields, such as quantum computing, communication, and energy storage. Therefore, researchers continue to study the properties of superconducting germanium to explore its full potential.