LINEAR

EXPANSION
When the temperature of a body increases, it experiences
dilation.
 LINEAR
EXPANSION
Linear dilation is the variation of the length of
a body, in response to a variation in
temperature. Although any body can dilate, the
stones are basically applied to metals. Dilation
is due to the fact that the particles of the body
increase their kinetic energy when they absorb
heat. As a consequence, the amplitude of their
movements increases.
COEFFICIENT OF EXPANSION COEFFICIENT OF EXPANSION
OF SOME SUBSTANCES (°C)-1
STEEL 1,2x10-5
ALUMINIUM 2,4 x10-5
ZINC 2,6 x10-5
COPPER 1,4 x10-5
QUARTZ 0,4 x10-6
BRASS 0,9 x10-6
LEAD 2 x10-5
SILICA 2,9 x10-5
TUNGSTEN 0,4 x10-6
COMMON GLASS 9 x10-6
PYREX GLASS 3,2 x10-6
 COEFFICIENT OF COEFFICIENT OF EXPANSION
EXPANSION OF SOME (°C)-1
SUBSTANCES
SILVER 2x10-5
GOLD 1,5 x10-5
BRONZE 1,8 x10-5
IRON 1,2 x10-5
 WORKSHOP
• The rails of a steel railway track are 1500
m long. How long will it be when the
temperature rises from 24°C to 45°C?

• At a temperature of 18°C an iron rod has

a length of 8 m. What will be the length
when increasing its temperature to 55°C ?
• What is the length of a copper wire when
decreasing the temperature to 12°C, if
with a temperature of 40°C it measures
430 m?

• In a laboratory experiment engineers

want to know the temperature at which a
lead body reaches 25.43 m in length, when
initially it is maintained 25.34 m at a
• A steel bridge in the mornings when
the temperature is at 19°C maintains a
length of 130 m long, but in the
afternoon registers an increase, its
length is 130,022425 meters. What
temperature does this length reach?