TEMPERATURE and THERMAL

EXPANSION
 Thermal Expansion

 It is a phenomena whereby dimensions of a substance

change as temperature changes. Generally, dimensions
increase as temperature increases ( with few exceptions).

Note: Water, in the temperature range from 0°C to 4°C, decreases

in volume with increasing temperature. In this range, its
coefficient of volume expansion is negative. Above 4°C, water
expands. At this temperature, density is maximum.
 Thermal Expansion
Amount of expansion depends on…
change in temperature
original length
Nature of the substance (coefficient of thermal expansion)

Temp: T
L0
Temp: T+T
L
Types of Expansion:
•Linear Expansion : Change in Length , ∆L =  L0 T
•Area Expansion : Change in Area, ∆A = γ A0 T
•Volume Expansion : Change in Volume , ∆V =  V0 T
When temperature rises
molecules have more kinetic energy (they are moving
faster)
consequently, things tend to expand

The amount of internal energy depends on … the temperature

has more internal energy

than
 Concept Question
As you heat a block of aluminum from 0 C to 100 C its density
1. Increases
2. Decreases
3. Stays the same

T=0C T = 100 C

M, V0
r0 = M / V0 M, V100
r100 = M / V100
< r0
 Concept Question
An aluminum plate has a circular hole cut in it. A copper ball (solid sphere) has
exactly the same diameter as the hole when both are at room temperature, and
hence can just barely be pushed through it. If both the plate and the ball are now
heated up to a few hundred degrees Celsius, how will the ball and the hole fit (
(aluminum) >  (copper) ) ?
1. The ball won’t fit through the hole any more
2. The ball will fit more easily through the hole
3. Same as at room temperature

The aluminum plate and copper ball both have

different coefficients of thermal expansion.
Aluminum has a higher coefficient than copper which
means the aluminum plate hole will expand to be
larger than the copper ball's expansion and allow
more space for the ball to pass through.
Why does the hole get bigger when the
plate expands ???
Imagine a plate made from 9 smaller pieces.
Each piece expands.
If you remove one piece, it will leave an “expanded hole”

Object at temp T
Same object at higher T:
Plate and hole both get larger
 Thermal Stress
Stress that is developed if there is change in
temperature but change in dimension is
prevented.
Recall:
Stress= F/A Y = stress/strain
Stress = Y (strain)
 Strain = ∆L/L0
 ∆L =  L0 T ; ∆L /L0 =  T

 Stress= - Y  T
 Force,F = -Y A  T
 Equations:
 Linear Expansion
Final length L = L0 +∆L = L0 +  L0 T
L= L0 (1+ T )
 Area Expansion
Final Area A = A0 +∆A= A0 + γ A0 T
A= A0 (1+ γ T )
 Volume Expansion
Final Volume V= V0 +∆V= V0 + β V0 T
V= V0 (1+ β T )
where; γ=2 ; β =3
 - coefficient of linear expansion
γ – coefficient of area expansion
β – coefficient of volume expansion
 Sample problems:

1.Steel rails are laid when the temperature is 15°C. if the

maximum temperature expected is 45°C and the length of
each rail is 10m, find the gap between successive rails. Use 
=11x10 -6 /C°.
steel

2. A rod of radius 1.0 cm is suspended from the ceiling at a

temperature of 50°C. It is to be cooled to a temperature of
-10°C. Find a) force needed to prevent contraction b) stress
developed at this condition. Consider Y = 11x1010 N/m2 and
 =10x10 -6 /C°.
 Sample problems:

3. An 80 gal steel drum is filled with gasoline when the

temperature is 20°C. Find the volume of gasoline that will
overflow when temperature becomes 70°C. Use  steel
=11x10 -6 /C° and β gasoline = 9.6 x10 -4/ C ° .

4. A certain metallic rod is found to have lengthened by 0.25%

if the temperature is increased by 1000 C °. What is the
coefficient of linear expansion of the rod
 Sample problems:

5. A thin brass sheet at 20°C has the same surface area as a thin
steel sheet at 0°C. At what common temperature if any will
the two sheets have the same area? Use  brass = 19 x10 -6 /
C° and  steel = 10.5 x 10 -6 / C°.

6. A 50 m steel tape correctly measures distance at 10°C. A

distance measured by the tape at 40°C is 105.56 m. What is
the actual distance? Use  steel = 11 x 10 -6 / C°.