[NOTES ON THERMAL EXAPNSION] January 10, 2012

THERMAL EXPANSION OF MATTER

Matter expands when heated and contracts when cooled under normal circumstances.

a) Expansion of solids

Expansion of solids can be demonstrated using a ball and ring apparatus. When the
ball and the ring are at the same temperature (e.g. room temp.), the ball can pass
through the ring. When the ball is heated for some time it expands and will not pass
through the ring. This demonstrates that the ball has expanded on heating.

(i)

ri

Before ball
heating, the

(ii) After

After heating,
the ball does

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Expansion of solids can also be demonstrated using the bar and gauge apparatus.
When the bar and gauge are both at room temperature, the bar fits in the gauge. When
the bar is heated for some time, it does fit in the gauge. This demonstrates that the bar
has expanded.

gaug
e

(i) Before heating, the

metal bar fits into the
gauge

bar

(ii) After heating, the

metal bar expands and
will not fit into the
gauge in either length
or diameter.

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b) Expansion of liquids

Expansion of a liquid can be demonstrated by setting an experiment (or apparatus) as

shown below. When the flask is heated, the level of the liquid in the tube falls a little
before it begins to rise. The initial fall in the level is caused by the expansion of the flask
when heated. After that, heat is conducted through the glass causing the liquid to
expand.

N.B. Almost all liquids expand when heated. But water is different from other liquids:

If you heat water from the freezing point (0 °C) up to 4 °C, it gets smaller (contracts)
even though you are making it hotter. If water is cooled from 4 °C to the freezing point
(0 °C), it expands. This is called unusual expansion of water. Above 4 °C, it behaves
like other liquids and expands as it gets hotter. This means water has a minimum
volume and a maximum density at 4 °C.

The graph below shows how the volume of water changes with temperature when it is
heated from 0 °C.

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c) Expansion of gases

Expansion of a gas can be demonstrated by setting an experiment as shown below.

(i) or (ii)

If you warm the flask in diagram (i) with your hands, the air/gas expands and moves
down the glass tube. The air/gas eventually comes out of the glass tube and bubbles in
water.

When the flask in set-up/diagram (ii) is heated, the air/gas expands and moves up the
glass tube. The gas pushes up the liquid column/thread of liquid as it expands.

N.B. Gases expand more than liquids and liquids expand more than solids. i.e. for the
same temperature rise, expansion is greatest in gases and least in solids.

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Uses of expansion

(a) Shrink-fitting

This is a method which is used to fit wheels onto axles. The axle is shrunk by cooling it
in liquid nitrogen at -196 °C until the gear wheels can be slipped on them. On regaining
normal temperature the axle expands to give a very tight fit.

gear
a
h

(i) When the wheel and the axle are

both at same temp the axle cannot slip
gear

(ii) Wheel and axle fitted together after

b) Riveting metal plates

This is a method which is used to join metal plates together. A hot rivet is placed in the
rivet holes and its end hammered flat. On cooling the rivet contracts and pulls the plates
together. This method is used to make a bi-metal strip.

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The bimetal strip

A bimetal strip is made up of two different metal strips of equal length. The strips are
joined with a rivet such that they cannot move separately. For example, a bimetal strip
can be made of copper and iron. When heated, copper expands more than iron and to
allow this the strip bends with copper on the outside.

copper

iron

(i) Before heating

(ii) After heating

Exercise:

Draw a diagram which shows how a bimetal strip made of copper and iron will bend
when cooled below room temperature.

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c) Fire alarm

A fire alarm warns people when there is a fire outbreak in a house or building. A fire
alarm consists of a bimetal strip which acts as a switch. The diagram below shows a fire
alarm.

Refer to GCSE PHYSICS 4 th EDITION, page 156,

Fig. 36.4 (a)

When there is a fire, the heat from the fire heats the bimetal strip. Then the bimetal strip
expands and bends upwards until it closes the circuit at the contacts. The bell rings
when the strip touches the contact.

d) The thermostat

A thermostat is a device which is used to regulate the temp of electrical appliances or a

room. For example a thermostat is used in an electric iron. A thermostat uses a bimetal

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strip in the electrical heating circuit of an iron.

Refer to GCSE PHYSICS 4 th EDITION, page 156,

Fig. 36.4 (b)

The diagram above shows a thermostat in an electric iron. When the iron reaches the
required temp the strip bends down, breaks the circuit at the contacts and switches off
the heater. After cooling a little the strip straightens and remakes the contact and the
heater turns on again. A near-steady temp results

If the control knob is screwed down, the strip has to bend more to break the heating
circuit and this needs a higher temp.

e) Expansion of a liquid is also used to measure temperature

CONSEQUENCES OF THERMAL EXPANSION AND PRECAUTIONS AGAINST

THEM

1) Railway lines

In the past gaps were left between the lengths of rail to allow for expansion in summer.
The gaps caused a ‘clickety-click’ sound as the train passed over them.

Nowadays rails are welded into lengths of about 1 km and are held by concrete
sleepers that can withstand the large forces created without buckling or bending. Also,
at the joints the ends are tapered and overlap. This gives a smoother ride and allows for
expansion near the ends of each length of rail.

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(a) Old railway

line

rails

(b) Modern railway

line
Refer to GCSE PHYSICS, 4
th EDITION, page 155,
Fig. 36.2 a

Tapered overlap of
rails

2) Bridges
When a bridge is built, one is fixed and the other end rests on rollers which allow
expansion. This is done to avoid the bridge from breaking or cracking when it expands.

Fixe br Expans

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3) Telephone or power cables

When telephone or power cables are suspended on poles or pylons, they are made to
be slack. This is done to prevent them from snapping /breaking when they contract in
cold weather.

1. Slack

p
(b) Tight

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