Kyle Groden

Thermal Expansion



Brass:
Initial Length: 597.78 mm, Final Length: 598.70 mm, L: .92 mm
Initial Temp: 21.7 C, Final Temp: 100 C, T: 78.3 C

brass
: 20 x 10
-6
/C, Percent Error: 3.29%
Steel
Initial Length: 599.66 mm, Final Length: 600.02 mm, L: .36 mm
Initial Temp: 21.7 C, Final Temp: 100 C, T: 78.3 C

steel
: 8 x 10
-6
/C, Percent Error: 33.3%

Sample Calculation:
Brass:

brass
=(.92 mm/(597.78mm)(78.3 C))= 20 x 10
-6
/C


Error Analysis:

One source of error in this experiment occurs during the heating of the rod with steam. It is not
possible to determine the extent at which the heat penetrates the metal. Therefore, it cannot be
determined if the whole piece was actually heated, or just the outside layers were. Because of
that, the rod may not have extended to its full potential because it wasnt heated up completely.
Also, rust on the steel could also have caused error. Due to the oxidation on the outside of the
rod, it takes more energy to fully heat the metal, and also cannot be heated completely evenly
due to the uneven distribution of iron oxide. Both of these factors could have ultimately affected
the final results of the experiment.