PHYS132 – M4/M13

Group#7_Sing

CEBU INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

UNIVERSITY
N. Bacalso Avenue, Cebu City

COLLEGE OF

ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

Department of Engineering Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry

SING, NICHOLAS BONN L. February 06, 2020

(Name, Course, and Year) (Date Submitted)

M4/M13 –7 ENGR. KARLA JANE N. PURACAN

Section - Group Number Instructor

Experiment #7

LINEAR EXPANSION
Title of Experiment

I. Objective/s
 Determine the coefficient of linear expansion of a metal rod.
II. Materials/Apparatus/Equipment
 Aluminum, Brass, & Copper rods
 Boiler
 Bull clip
 Electric heater
 Extension cord
 Linear Expansion Apparatus
 Micrometer
 2 rubber hose
 Screw driver
 Steel tape
III. Procedure
1. The materials were prepared by the students.
2. The rods were measured by the students.
3. The expansion cord was plugged onto the outlet.
4. The electric heater was placed in the lab table and was plugged to the head of the
expansion cord.
5. The water is poured into the boiler and was placed on top of the electric heater and
was heated until the water starts boiling.
6. The linear expansion apparatus was placed in the lab table by the students.
7. A rubber hose, that’s clipped, was attached to the openings of the boiler and was
connected to the aluminum rod.
8. The initial temperature was recorded by the students.
9. As the steam starts to come out from the other end of the rod, the final temperature
was recorded by the students.
10. The process was repeated, but using the brass rod and copper rod.
PHYS132 – M4/M13
Group#7_Sing

IV. Tabulated Data and Results

Item Used Symbol Unit Sample Used
Aluminum Brass Copper
Initial length of Rod Lo cm 83.4 cm 83.2 cm 83.3 cm
Initial temp. of Rod Ti ˚ 32˚ 33˚ 30˚
Final temp. of Rod Tf ˚ 98˚ 98˚ 98˚
Expansion of Rod ∆L mm 1.16 mm .88 mm .98 mm
Coefficient of Linear α ˚C 2.05 x 10-5 1.63 x 10-5 1.73 x 10-5
Computed /˚C /˚C /˚C
Theoretical Value Tv ˚C 23.6 x 10- 20.3 x 10- 17 x 10-6/˚C
6 6
/˚C /˚C
Change of ∆t ˚ 66˚ 65˚ 68˚
temperature
% Error PE % 10.7% 19.84% 1.77%
The table from above provides the information about the experiment that was
conducted last January 30, 2020. From the initial length of rod, the table shows that
the aluminum rod had the longest rod out of the three only by a mm, and the shortest
was the brass rod. In its initial temperature, the brass rod had the highest that is 33˚.
The final temperature, all the rods had the equal amount of temperature, that is 98˚.

From the data gathered, aluminum has greater change in length than that of the
copper. So therefore, we can conclude that an object with greater coefficient of
linear expansion will have the greater change in length that proves the earlier
statement I mentioned above.

Computations:
-Coefficient of Linear Expansion,
∆L
α=
Lo∆t
*Aluminum
1.16 mm
α=
834 mm( 66 ˚)
α = 2.05 x 10-5/˚C
*Copper
.98 mm
α=
833 mm(68 ˚ )
α = 1.73 x 10-5/˚C
*Brass
.88 mm
α=
832 mm(66 ˚ )
α = 1.63 x 10-5/˚C

-Percentage Error
α−Theoretical value
%error = x 100
Theoretical value

*Aluminum
2.05 x 10−5/˚ C−23.6 x 10−6/˚ C
%error = x 100
23.6 x 10−6/˚ C
%error = 10.7%
*Brass
1.63 x 10−5/˚ C−20.3 x 10−6 /˚ C
%error = x 100
20.3 x 10−6/˚ C
%error = 19.84%

*Copper
PHYS132 – M4/M13
Group#7_Sing
1.73 x 10−5/˚ C−17 x 10−6/ ˚C
%error = x 100
20.3 x 10−6/˚ C
%error = 1.77%

V. Experimental Data Analysis and Discussion

The results shows that the materials having a change in temperature will have a
corresponding change in particular dimensions which is length for this experiment.
The expansion of a material depends on the value of its coefficient of linear
expansion, wherein the higher the coefficient of linear expansion is, the more it will
expand.
The result wasn’t expected because most of us would be expecting a change in
the final temperature. This result broadens our understanding by knowing the
concepts of rods when it comes to real life situations such as bridges for example.

VI. Conclusion
In physics, thermal expansion is the tendency of matter to increase
in volume or pressure when heated. As a result of the experiment, I found out that
materials having a change in temperature will have a change in dimension or length.
The expansion of a material also depends on the value of its coefficient of linear
expansion, the higher the coefficient of linear expansion the more it will expand.
Therefore, they are directly proportional to one another.

          Based on the results achieved, Aluminum has greater change in length than
that of the copper and brass. So therefore, we can conclude that an object with
greater coefficient of linear expansion will most probably have the greater change in
length. As said in the previous statement, the coefficient of linear expansion is
directly proportional to change of length of a material.

There are three factors that mainly affect the change in length of a material in
thermal expansion.  These are the coefficient of linear expansion, initial length of the
body, and the change in the temperature.  All these three factors are directly
proportional to the change in length of the material.  If these three factors increase,
the change in length will also increase.  And also, some factors may lead in causing
error in the experiment.

Likewise to the experiment, I found out that many things around us have
something to do with thermal expansion. This experiment acquires basic knowledge
and ideas about its pros and cons in everyday life. Like the roads, and train railing.
They were given a space for expansion, so we can see the roads have a small slit to
prevent bulky of the material or damage to the material.

VII. References
Coefficient Linear Expansio. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://byjus.com/physics/coefficient-of-linear-expansion/