What electrical quantity is most directly affected by light intensity in selenium?

Prepare for the Electrical Apprenticeship Exemption Exam. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions, with hints and explanations for each. Ace your exam!

In the context of selenium, light intensity primarily affects its resistance. Selenium is a photoconductive material, meaning its electrical resistance decreases when exposed to light. As light intensity increases, the energy of the photons causes electrons to be released from their bound states, thereby increasing the conductivity of the selenium and reducing its resistance.

This property makes selenium particularly useful in applications like photocells and sensors, where the resistance of the material changes in response to varying light levels. Therefore, in scenarios involving light exposure to selenium, resistance is the electrical quantity that is most directly influenced.

The other quantities listed, such as voltage, capacitance, and frequency, do not have a direct relationship with light intensity in the context of selenium. While voltage can change in response to the change in resistance and current, it is not the most direct outcome of light exposure. Capacitance relates to a component's ability to store electric charge and is not significantly affected by light intensity in this context. Frequency pertains to the rate of oscillation of an electrical signal, which does not have a direct correlation with light intensity in relation to selenium.

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