THERMAL EXPANSION

IN SOLIDS
Most solids expand when heated and contract on cooling. When a solid is heated, its particles
vibrate more vigorously and faster. As the vibrations become larger the particles will need
more space for movement, so particles are pushed further apart and the solid expands slightly
in all directions.
When it is cooled, the vibrations become smaller then the particles are pulled closer together
by force of attraction between and hence the solid contracts.
Demonstration of expansion of solids
1). Ball and ring experiment

When the ball and the ring are at the same temperature, the ball fits into the ring and can pass
through easily.
Procedure: - Heat the ball strongly several minutes
- Try to pass the ball through the ring
Observation: the ball does not fall through the ring
Conclusion: solid expands when heated.
b) Then, leave the ball to rest on the ring for some minutes.
Observation: The ball falls through the ring
Conclusion: The ball lost heat to the ring and contracts as it cools and at the same time the
ring expands as it gains the heat.
2). Bar and gauge

The gauge consists of a slot that fits in the length of the bar and a circular hole that fits in the
diameter of the slot when both the gauge and bar are at the same temperature.
Procedure
- Fit the bar into the slot and the hole on the gauge when both the gauge and bar are at room
temperature to check if the bar fits in.
-Heat the bar strongly over the Bunsen burner for a couple of minutes. Try to fit it into the
slot and hole on the gauge after being heated.
Observation: the bar does not fit into the slot as well as the hole.

Conclusion: solid (bar) expands when heated.

b) Leave the bar to cool and test again

Observation: The bar once again fits into the gauge (through the slot and the hole)

Conclusion: Solid (bar) contracts when it cools.

Thermal expansion involves calculations based on the linear, area, or volume expansion of a
material when it is heated. These calculations are used straightforward and rely on specific
formulas.

Linear Expansion

When solid expands in one dimension (length), the increase in length (ΔL) is calculated
using:

ΔL = αL0ΔT

Where: ΔL= change in length (m)

α= coefficient of linear expansion (oC-1)
L0= original length (m)
ΔT= temperature change (oC or K)
Area Expansion

For a 2-dimensional object, the increase in area (ΔA) is calculated as:

ΔA = 2αA0 ΔT

Where: ΔA = change in area (m2)

A0= original area (m2)
Volume Expansion

For a 3-dimensional object, the increase in volume (ΔV) is calculated as:

ΔV = 3αV0 ΔT

Where: ΔV = change in volume (m3)

V0= original volume (m3)
CLASSWORK
A steel is 40 cm long at 20 0C. The coefficient of linear expansion for steel is 1.2 x 10-6 0C-
1
. Find the increase in length and the final length when it is at 70 0C

An iron rod heated from 30 C to 80 C. The final length of iron is 115 cm and the coefficient
of linear expansion is 3×10-3 C. What is the original length and the change in length of the
iron?

The original length of metal is 1 meter and the final length is 1.02 m. The change in
temperature is 50Kelvin. Determine the coefficient of linear expansion

At 25 C, the length of the glass is 50 cm. After heated, the final length of the glass is 50.9 cm.
The coefficient of linear expansion is α = 9 x 10-6 0C. Determine the final temperature of the
glass.

At 20 0C, the length of a sheet of steel is 50 cm and the width is 30 cm. If the coefficient of
linear expansion for steel is 1 x 10-5 C-1, determine the change in area and the final area at 60 0C.

At 30 0C, the area of a sheet of aluminium is 40 cm2 and the coefficient of linear expansion is 24 x
10-6 0C-1. Determine the final temperature if the final area is 40.2 cm2.

At 30 0C the volume of an aluminium sphere is 30 cm3. The coefficient of linear expansion is 24 x 10-6 0C-1
. If the final volume is 30.5 cm3, what is the final temperature of the aluminium sphere?

A 2000cm3 aluminium container is filled with water at 0 0C. Then is heated to 90 0C. If the
coefficient of linear expansion for aluminium is 24 x 10-6 0C-1 and the coefficient of volume
expansion for water is 6.3 x10-6 0C-1, determine the volume of spilled water.

IN LIQUIDS

Liquids expand when heated. They expand more than solids because the molecules are not
tightly bound together as those in solids.

Unusual expansion of water

If we start with water that is warmer than 4 °C, as the water cooled to 4 °C it contracts as any
liquid would do. But surprisingly as it is cooled from 4 °C to 0 °C it expands. Water therefore
has a minimum volume (and maximum density) at 4 °C.

As the water freezes at 0 °C it expands even more. This is why the water pipes burst in very
cold weather.

The unusual expansion of water between 4 °C and 0 °C helps the fish to survive in a frozen
pond.

The water at the top cools first, contracts and becomes denser and sinks to the bottom. The
less dense water rises to the surface to be cooled, become denser and then sinks as well.
When all the water is 4 °C, the circulation ceases. If the temperature of the surface water falls
below 4 °C the water becomes less dense and remains at the top and eventually forming a
layer of ice of 0 °C. The temperatures in the pond are then as shown above.

*NB:- When water is heated from 0 °C to 4 °C instead of expanding it contracts and also
reaches its minimum volume at 4 °C. From 4 °C upwards it expands as we would expected.

IN GASES

GASES also expand when heated. They expand much more than solids and liquids. This is
because gas molecules have negligible attractive forces between them since they are far apart.
8.6.5 Experiment to compare the expansion of water (liquid) and air (gas)

Two identical flasks A and B are filled with water and air. Flasks A and B are at the same
time placed into warm water in a small bowl C.

The water level in flask A is seen to rise very slowly but the coloured pellet in flask B rises
up the capillary tube rapidly. This shows that air expands more faster than water.

Roughly the relative order of magnitude of expansion of solids, liquids and gases is 1 : 10 :
100 respectively

Most expansion -------------------------------------------------------------------------> least

expansion

Gases liquids solids

8.6.6 APPLICATIONS OF THERMAL EXPANSION IN EVERYDAY LIFE

A). Bimetallic strip – it is a device based on the different expansion of solids. It consists of
two metal strips of equal size but different rates (amount) of expansion, e.g. iron and brass.
The strips are riveted or welded together. On heating, the bimetallic strip bends with brass on
the outside of the curve and iron inside. This is because the brass expands more than iron for
the same temperature rise.
 Bimetallic strip is used in thermostats to work as electric switch. Thermostats are useful to
control automatically temperature of:
1). Electric iron
2). Electric and gas ovens
3). Waters heaters
4). Refrigerators
5). Fire alarms
6) Bimetallic thermometer, etc.

*NB;- Some of the above appliances have control knobs. When the control knob is screwed
down the strip has to bend to bend more to break the heating circuit and this needs a
higher temperature.

B). Riveting metal plates

Rivets are used to join two sheets of metals very tightly. During riveting, holes are bored in
the two sheets, then a very hot rivet is pushed through and hammered strongly on both sides
to make head on each end. The heads hold the sheets together. As the rivets cools, it contracts
and this pulls the sheets even more firmly together.

C). Shrink fitting – This is method to fit axles in gear wheel. An axle which is slightly too
large to fit into the gear wheel is cooled in liquid nitrogen. The axle contracts until it can
easily fit into the gear wheel. Then when the axle warms up later, it expands and this
produces a very tight fit between the wheel and the axle.

D). Liquid-in-glass thermometer:- mercury or alcohol expand when heated (or contract
when cooled). This fact is used to measure temperature.

E). Hot air balloon:- propane gas expands and becomes lighter when heated. It fills up a
balloon which will then because of the density difference between the propane inside and air
outside will rise upwards and fly around.

8.6.7 EVERYDAY CONSEQUENCES OF THERMAL EXPANSION

1). When railway tracks were laid with the ends of individual rails closely and firmly fixed
together with no gaps between, expansion made the tracks buckle.
 To allow for expansion and avoid destruction, gaps are left between the end of one rail
and the next.

The rails are tapered at each end, then each end overlaps with the end of the next rail. As the
rails expand or contract their ends slide over one another.

2). Steel bridge

One end of the bridge is supported on the rollers and the other end is fixed. As the bridge
expands the end on the rollers can move slightly, enough to avoid any damage to the bridge.
3). Telephone and power-lines:- are hung slightly slack ( too loose) if they are put up in
summer to allow for safe contraction in winter or at night without pulling the poles down or
the wire snapping (breaking). If they are put up in winter, they are tightened up a bit so that
they do not become loose (slack) when they expand in summer or during the day.

4). Tyre bursting:- more common during very hot days. It is caused by the expansion
excessive expansion of air inside the tyre.

5). Water pipe bursts:- due to expansion of water as it freezes.

6). Creaking noises in the roofs of buildings:- caused when the corrugated iron sheets slide
over each other as they expand or contract.

7). Freezing of water in the car radiators:- car radiator should have anti-freeze added to it
to lower the freezing point of water.