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Why do conduction electrons scatter in ordinary electrical conductors?

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Figure 1: Specific heat in the normal (Cen) and superconducting (Ces) states of a classic superconductor as a function of absolute temperature. The two functions are identical at the transition temperature (Tc) and above Tc. — superconductivity Figure 1: Specific heat in the normal (C_en) and superconducting (C_es) states of a classic superconductor as a function of absolute temperature. The two functions are identical at the transition temperature (T_c) and above T_c.

In ordinary electrical conductors, conduction electrons scatter primarily due to interactions with imperfections and thermal vibrations within the crystal lattice.1

While electrons move through a metal, they do not typically scatter from ions located at their expected lattice sites. Instead, scattering occurs when an electron encounters a crystal defect, such as a missing or misplaced ion, or an impurity of a different species.1

Additionally, atoms within a solid are constantly oscillating due to thermal energy, creating phonons—units of vibrational energy. As temperature increases, the amplitude of these ionic vibrations grows, causing ions to be displaced from their ideal positions. These displacements act as defects that cause electrons to deflect from their paths. This collision process transfers energy from the moving electrons to the ions, which manifests as electrical resistance and causes the material to heat up.2134