By: Ajay Williams Date: 11th February, 2013 Subject: Physics

What is Thermal Expansion & Contraction ?

This is when Matter changes in Volume because of a sudden changes in Temperature. OR The average distance of the particles increases or decreases and leads to an overall change in size, because heat energy is added or subtracted to the particles making them vibrate faster or slower to make the particles move further apart or closer together.

Examples of Thermal Expansion & Contraction

Thermal Expansion
Rails bending off the tracks due to high temperature.

Thermal Contraction
Balloon contracted after soaked in liquid nitrogen.

Reasons for Thermal Expansion & Contraction

The liquid in Mercury thermometers expand when heated and contract when cooled Thermal Expansion is needed to generate lift in hot-air balloons Thermal Expansion is also used in Fire Alarms since it uses a Bimetallic strip, when the strip gets hot, the strip bends causing the electrical contacts to close the circuit and triggers the siren or bell to alarm (Bimetallic strip two metal strips bonded together, and when heated, one of the metals curves toward the other metal that expands less)

What is Anomalous Expansion of Water ?

Water shows unusual expansion. When it is cooled from four degree centigrade to zero degree centigrade is known as "anomalous expansion of water. The anomalous expansion of water helps preserve aquatic life during very cold weather. When temperature falls, the top layer of water in a pond contracts, becomes denser and sinks to the bottom. A circulation is thus set up until the entire water in the pond reaches its maximum density at 4C. If the temperature falls further, the top layer expands and remains on the top till it freezes. Thus even though the upper layer are frozen the water near the bottom is at 4C and the fishes etc. can survive in it easily.

Thermal Expansion and Contraction of a Balloon in Liquid Nitrogen