How much does a conductor's resistance increase for each 5.5 °C (~10 °F) rise in temperature?

A conductor's resistance typically increases with temperature due to the behavior of the conductive materials, particularly metals. The relationship between the resistance of a conductor and temperature can be approximated using the temperature coefficient of resistance. For most metals, the resistance increases by about 0.4% to 0.5% for each degree Celsius increase in temperature.

When considering a rise of 5.5 °C (~10 °F), if we take an average increase of around 0.5% per degree Celsius, we can calculate the total increase in resistance:

• For a 1 °C increase, the resistance rises by approximately 0.5%.

• Therefore, for a 5.5 °C increase, the resistance increase would be approximately 5.5 x 0.5% = 2.75%.

This rounded value supports the option indicating a 2 percent increase as the most accurate choice. Therefore, the answer reflects the industry-standard estimation for the variation in resistance linked to a temperature rise of this magnitude in typical conductors used within data and telecommunications cabling systems. Understanding this concept is essential for predicting the behavior of electrical systems under different thermal conditions, which can affect performance and efficiency.