Chapter I

Thermal Expansion
Thermal Expansion
A phenomenon whereby the dimension of a body change when its temperature changes.

*Generally, when substances are heated (temperature is increased), they expand but when they are
cooled (temperature is decreased), they contract.

if T f > To (heating) ∆T = +
if T f < To (cooling) ∆T = −

Expansion – means the final dimension is greater than the initial

Contraction – means the final dimension is less than the initial

Types of Expansion

Linear Expansion
– change in length is due to change in temperature

Lo at t o
∆L due to ∆T

L at t f

∆L ∞ Lo ∆T

∆ L = L oα ∆ T

∆L = L − Lo

L = L o (1 + α ∆ T )

where: ∆L - change in length →m

Lo - original length →m
α - coefficient of linear expansion →/Co
∆T - change in temperature →Co

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 Coefficients of Linear Expansion
Material α(/Co)
Aluminum 2.4 x 10-5
Brass 2.0 x 10-5
Copper 1.7 x 10-5
Glass 0.4 – 0.9 x 10-5
Invar (nickel-iron alloy) 0.09 x 10-5
Quartz (fused) 0.04 x 10-5
Steel 1.2 x 10-5

Thermal Stress
− When a rod is heated or cooled, the force exerted by rigid and underlying support prevents its
expansion or contraction.
ƒ When a body is cooled, apply tensile force to prevent the body from contraction.
ƒ When a body is heated, apply compression force to prevent the body from expansion.

F = YA α ∆ T

where: F - tensile or compression force →N

A - area →m2
Y - Young’s Modulus of elasticity →N/m2
α - coefficient of linear expansion →/Co
∆T - change in temperature →Co

Area Expansion
– change in area is due to change in temperature

∆A ∞ Ao ∆T

∆ A = Aoγ∆ T

∆A = A − Ao

A = A o (1 + γ ∆ T )

γ = 2α

where: ∆A - change in area →m2

Ao - original area →m2
γ - coefficient of area expansion →/Co
∆T - change in temperature →Co

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Volume Expansion
– change in volume is due to change in temperature

∆V ∞ V o ∆T

∆V = Vo β∆T

∆V = V − Vo

V = V o (1 + β ∆ T )

β = 3α

where: ∆V - change in volume →m3

V - original volume →m3
β - coefficient of volume expansion →/Co
∆T - change in temperature →Co

Coefficients of Volume Expansion

Solid β(/Co)
Aluminum 7.2 x 10-5
Brass 6.0 x 10-5
Copper 5.1 x 10-5
Glass 1.2 – 2.7 x 10-5
Steel 3.6 x 10-5
Liquid β(/Co)
Ethanol 75 x 10-5
Carbon Disulfide 115 x 10-5
Glycerin 49 x 10-5
Mercury 18 x 10-5

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