College

Physics 2

THERMAL EXPANSION
MPS Department І FEU Institute of Technology
 OBJECTIVES

§ Explain the basic concepts of thermal physics

§ Define temperature and thermal expansion
§ Solve problems related to thermal expansion
DEFINITION OF TERMS
Temperature – it is the degree of hotness of an object
and it can be measured by thermometer.

Usually expressed in Celsius, Fahrenheit, or Kelvin

Scale.

Heat – it is the energy which travels from high

temperature to low temperature in a matter. It is also
called thermal or internal energy.
DEFINITION OF TERMS
Thermal Physics is the branch of physics that deals
with the study of temperature, heat energy and their
relation to matter.

When objects are heated or cooled, the temperature

changes and some properties of the materials change.
This is called Thermometric Properties.
Mercury is a common liquid
element used in thermometer.
It freezes at -39°C and boils at
357°C.

Figure 1. A mercury thermometer before and after increasing its temperature. From. Physics for
Scientists and Engineers with Modern Physics(pp 570) by Serway, R. A., & Jewett, J. W. (2019). Australia:
Cengage Learning.
CONVERSION

Conversion of Celsius to Fahrenheit:

Conversion of Farenheit to Celsius:

EXPANSION OF SOLIDS , LIQUIDS and GASES
All matters expand when heated because of the increase in the
vibration of the molecules.

Figure 2 Thermal Expansion of Solids, Liquids and Gases. From. https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/thermal-expansion-of-solids-liquids-and-gases-1458720400-1

LINEAR EXPANSION
A rod of a material has a length Lo at some initial
temperature T0. When the temperature changes by
DT, the length changes by DL.

Figure 3. How the length of a rod changes with a change in temperature. (Length changes are exaggerated for clarity.)From. Sear's & Zemansky's University
Physics With Modern Physics(pp557) by Young, H. D., Freedman, R. A. & A. Lewis Ford(2016). England: Pearson.

For moderate temperature changes, change in length

is directly proportional to change in temperature.
LINEAR EXPANSION
The formula for linear expansion is given as
follows:
D𝐿 = α𝐿! D𝑇
If a rod has length Lo at temperature To, then its length
L at a temperature T = To + DT is,
𝐿 = 𝐿! + D𝐿 = 𝐿! + α𝐿! D𝑇
𝑳 = 𝑳𝒐 (𝟏 + 𝜶D𝑻)
Where: DL – change in length (m)
LO– Initial length (m)
L – final length (m)
DT – change in temperature (C0 )
α – coefficient of linear expansion (/C0)
SAMPLE
1. A Surveyors uses a steel measuring tape is exactly 50
m long at a temperature of 20°C. The markings on the
tape are calibrated for this temperature. What is the
length of the tape when the temperature is 35°C? (αsteel
= 11x 10-6 /C0)
SOLUTION
𝑳 = 𝑳𝒐 (𝟏 + 𝜶D𝑻)
= 50m [1+ (11x 10-6 /C0) (35-20)C0]
= 50.008m
ANSWER: 50.008m
AREA EXPANSION

When an object
undergoes thermal
expansion, any holes in
the object expand as
well.

Figure 4. Thermal Expansion in Holes. From. Sear's & Zemansky's University Physics With Modern Physics(pp557) by Young, H. D.,
Freedman, R. A. & A. Lewis Ford(2016). England: Pearson.
AREA EXPANSION (SUPERFICIAL EXPANSION)
The formula for area expansion is given as follows:
D𝐴 = 2α𝐴! D𝑇
D𝐴 = 𝛾𝐴! D𝑇
If a rod has length Lo at temperature To, then its length L at a
temperature T = To + DT is,
𝐴 = 𝐴! + D𝐴 = 𝐴" + 𝛾𝐴" D𝑇 = 𝐴" + 2α𝐿" D𝑇
𝑨 = 𝑨𝒐 (𝟏 + 𝛾D𝑻)
Where: DA – change in length (m2)
AO– Initial length (m2)
A – final length (m2)
DT – change in temperature (C0 )
α – coefficient of linear expansion (/C0)
γ - coefficient of superficial expansion (/C0)
γ = 2α
SAMPLE
CONCEPT CHECK
We cut a circular piece from the
rectangular plate. Which ones of
the processes given below can help
us in passing through the circular
piece from the hole?
Figure 4. Thermal Expansion in Holes. From. Sear's & Zemansky's University Physics
With Modern Physics(pp557) by Young, H. D., Freedman, R. A. & A. Lewis Ford(2016).
England: Pearson.

I. Increasing the temperatures of rectangular plate and

circular piece
II. Decreasing the temperature of the circular piece
III. Decreasing the temperatures of the rectangular plate and
circular piece
Coefficients of Linear Expansion of Some Materials

Table 1 . Coefficients of Linear Expansion of Some Materials . From. Sear's & Zemansky's
University Physics With Modern Physics(pp557) by Young, H. D., Freedman, R. A. & A. Lewis
Ford(2016). England: Pearson.
VOLUME EXPANSION
Increasing temperature usually causes increases in
volume for both solid and liquid materials.

D𝑉 = β𝑉! D𝑇
Where: DV – change in volume
VO– Initial volume
DT – change in temperature
β – coeffecient of volume expansion

The relationship between coefficient of linear

expansion and coefficient of volume expansion is:
β = 3α
Coefficients of Volume Expansion of Some Materials

Table 2 . Coefficients of Volume Expansion of Some Materials . From. Sear's & Zemansky's University Physics With Modern Physics(pp557) by Young, H. D., Freedman, R. A. & A. Lewis Ford(2016).
England: Pearson.
SAMPLE
2. A glass flask with volume 200cm3 is filled to the brim with
mercury at 20 °C. How much mercury overflows when the
temperature of the system is raised to 100 °C? (The coefficient of
linear expansion of the glass is 0.40x10-5K-1. The coefficient of
volume expansion of mercury is 18x10-5K-1 )
SOLUTION
𝑉#!"#$%#& − 𝑉#'()** = 𝑉! 1 + 𝛽∆𝑇 $%&'(&) − 1 + 𝛽∆𝑇 *+,--

(Mercury expands faster than glass)

= 200𝑐𝑚. E 1 + 18𝑥10/0/𝐶 1 1001𝐶 − 201𝐶
− 1 + 3 ∗ 0.4𝑥10/0/𝐶 1 1001𝐶 − 201𝐶 F
= 2.688𝑐𝑚.
ANSWER: 2.688cm3
REFERENCES

Serway, R. A., & Jewett, J. W. (2019). Physics for Scientists and

Engineers with Modern Physics Tenth Edition. Australia: Cengage
Learning.

Young, H. D., & Freedman, R. A. (2016). Sear's & Zemansky's

University Physics With Modern Physics. England: Pearson.

https://www.physicstutorials.org/home/heat-temperature-and-
thermal-expansion/thermal-expansion-and-contraction

https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/thermal-
expansion-of-solids-liquids-and-gases-1458720400-1