Thermal expansion

Linear and volume

OBJECTIVES:
1. Define thermal expansion
2. Identify factors affecting thermal expansion
3. Solve sample problems involving linear expansion and volume expansion.

THERMAL EXPANSION
- Change in the dimension(s) of a substance due to change in
temperature.
Factors affecting thermal expansion:
1. Temperature
Higher change in temperature, the higher the
expansion.
T for the symbol.
2. Type of material
- Quantified by a constant value for coefficient of thermal
expansion for some materials.
- The higher the coefficient, the higher the expansion.
- The symbol used
3. Original Dimension
- Greater original dimension, greater the expansion
- L for linear
- A for area
- V for volume






TYPES OF EXPANSION:
1. LINEAR EXPANSION
- The expansion in length of solid bodies on heating



Coefficients of thermal expansion for some materials.
MATERIAL LINEAR COEFFICIENT
(x10-6/C)
VOLUME
COEFFICIENT
(x10-6/ C)
GLASS 8.5
MERCURY 26 180
ALUMINUM 24 75
COPPER 17
BRASS 19 56
IRON 11.1 35
STEEL 11.0-13.0 35
CONCRETE 12 36
WATER 210
2. VOLUME EXPANSION
- Sometimes called the cubic expansion










EXAMPLES:
1. The Buckling of a Sidewalk
A concrete sidewalk is constructed between
two buildings on a day when the temperature
is 25
o
C. As the temperature rises to 38
o
C,
the slabs expand, but no space is provided for
thermal expansion. Determine the distance y
in part (b) of the drawing.




( ) | |( )( ) m 00047 . 0 C 13 m 0 . 3 C 10 12
1
6
= =
A = A

T L L
o
o
( ) ( ) m 053 . 0 m 00000 . 3 m 00047 . 3
2 2
= = y
2. An Automobile Radiator
A small plastic container, called the coolant reservoir, catches
the radiator fluid that overflows when an automobile engine
becomes hot. The radiator is made of
copper and the coolant has an expansion
coefficient of 4.0x10
-4
(C
o
)
-1
. If the radiator
is filled to its 15-quart capacity when the engine
is cold (6
o
C),how much overflow will spill into the
reservoir when the coolant reaches its operating
temperature (92
o
C)?






3. Modem eaves troughs and constructed from a roll of sheet aluminium in
one continuous piece. What is change in length of a 30m long Al trough
(= 23x10-6 C) for temperature range T=100 F?




4. A vertical steel antenna tower is 200 m high. Calculate the change in height of the tower that
takes place when the temperature changes from -20 C on a winter day to 30 C on a summer day.




( ) ( )( )( ) quarts 53 . 0 C 86 quarts 15 C 10 10 . 4
1
4
coolant
= = A


V
( ) ( )( )( ) quarts 066 . 0 C 86 quarts 15 C 10 51
1
6
radiator
= = A


V
quarts 0.46 quarts 066 . 0 quarts 53 . 0
spill
= = AV

5. A metal rod is 200.00 cm long at 0C and 200.18 cm long at 60C. What is its coefficient of linear
expansion?




6. A metal vessel has a volume of 500.00 cm^3 at 0 C. If the coefficient of linear expansion is
0.000011 /C, what is the volume at 50 C?