TEMPERATURE

and THERMAL EXPANSION

 Thermal Expansion
 It is a phenomena whereby dimensions of a substance
change as temperature changes. Generally, dimensions
increase as temperature increases ( with few
exceptions).

Note: Water, in the temperature range from 0°C to 4°C,

decreases in volume with increasing temperature. In this range,
its coefficient of volume expansion is negative. Above 4°C,
water expands. At this temperature, density is maximum.
 Thermal Expansion
Amount of expansion depends on…
change in temperature
original length
Nature of the substance (coefficient of thermal
expansion)
Temp: T
L0
Temp: T+T
L

Types of Expansion:
•Linear Expansion : Change in Length , ∆L =  L0 T
•Area Expansion : Change in Area, ∆A = γ A0 T
•Volume Expansion : Change in Volume , ∆V =  V0
T
When temperature rises
molecules have more kinetic energy (they
are moving faster)
consequently, things tend to expand

The amount of internal energy depends on … the

temperature

has more internal energy

than
 Concept Question
As you heat a block of aluminum from 0 C to 100 C its density
1. Increases
2. Decreases
3. Stays the same

T=0C T = 100 C

M, V0
r0 = M / V0 M, V100
r100 = M / V100
< r0
 Concept Question
An aluminum plate has a circular hole cut in it. A copper ball (solid
sphere) has exactly the same diameter as the hole when both are at
room temperature, and hence can just barely be pushed through it. If
both the plate and the ball are now heated up to a few hundred
degrees Celsius, how will the ball and the hole fit (a (aluminum) > a
(copper) ) ?
1. The ball won’t fit through the hole any more
2. The ball will fit more easily through the hole
3. Same as at room temperature

The aluminum plate and copper ball both

have different coefficients of thermal
expansion. Aluminum has a higher
coefficient than copper which means the
aluminum plate hole will expand to be larger
than the copper ball's expansion and allow
more space for the ball to pass through.
Why does the hole get bigger when the
plate expands ???
Imagine a plate made from 9 smaller pieces.
Each piece expands.
If you remove one piece, it will leave an “expanded hole”

Object at temp T
Same object at higher T:
Plate and hole both get larger
 Thermal Stress
Stress that is developed if there is change in
temperature but change in dimension is
prevented.
Recall:
Stress= F/A Y = stress/strain
Stress = Y (strain)
 Strain = ∆L/L0
 ∆L =  L0 T ; ∆L /L0 =  T

 Stress= - Y  T
 Force,F = -Y A  T
 Equations:
 Linear Expansion
Final length L = L0 +∆L = L0 +  L0 T
L= L0 (1+ T )
 Area Expansion
Final Area A = A0 +∆A= A0 + γ A0 T
A= A0 (1+ γ T )
 Volume Expansion
Final Volume V= V0 +∆V= V0 + β V0 T
V= V0 (1+ β T )
where; γ=2 ; β =3
 - coefficient of linear expansion
γ – coefficient of area expansion
β – coefficient of volume expansion
 Sample problems:

1.Steel rails are laid when the temperature is 15°C. if

the maximum temperature expected is 45°C and
the length of each rail is 10m, find the gap between
successive rails. Use  steel =11x10 -6 /C°.

2. A rod of radius 1.0 cm is suspended from the ceiling

at a temperature of 50°C. It is to be cooled to a
temperature of
-10°C. Find a) force needed to prevent contraction
b) stress developed at this condition. Consider Y =
11x1010 N/m2 and
 =10x10 -6 /C°.
 Sample problems:

3. An 80 gal steel drum is filled with gasoline when the

temperature is 20°C. Find the volume of gasoline
that will overflow when temperature becomes 70°C.
Use  steel =11x10 -6 /C° and β gasoline = 9.6 x10 -4/ C ° .

4. A certain metallic rod is found to have lengthened

by 0.25% if the temperature is increased by 1000 C °.
What is the coefficient of linear expansion of the rod
 Sample problems:

5. A thin brass sheet at 20°C has the same surface

area as a thin steel sheet at 0°C. At what common
temperature if any will the two sheets have the
same area? Use  brass = 19 x10 -6 / C° and  steel =
10.5 x 10 -6 / C°.

6. A 50 m steel tape correctly measures distance at

10°C. A distance measured by the tape at 40°C is
105.56 m. What is the actual distance? Use  steel =
11 x 10 -6 / C°.