Lab Report

2016-09-05
[Name]
Supervisor:
DETERMINATION OF COFFICIANT OF LINEAR EXPANSION OF A METAL
ROD
Objective: To experimentally determine the thermal expansion coefficient of a
metal.
Theory: Thermal expansion of an object is the change in average space
between particles that the material is made of. Like most materials, solid state
materials are made up of particles that are constantly vibrating in their
approximate positions. This happens, because of the energy stored within the
particle is forcing it to move, while the nucleus of other nearby particles repel the
incoming particle with somewhat equal force. This constant movement creates a
certain space between each particle and the vibration intensity expands it when
the temperature rises. This happens because the repelling forces are not affected
by temperature otherwise the particles would not create a greater separation
space due to the equilibrium of pushing and repelling forces. If the thermal
expansion of an object is sufficiently small compared with the objects initial
dimensions, then the change in any dimension is, to a good approximation,
proportional to the first power of the temperature change.

Suppose an object has an initial length L0 along some direction at some

temperature T0. Then the length increases by L for a change in temperature
T. So for small changes in temperature,
(1)

L = aLoT or L Lo = aLo (T - To),

where L is the objects final length, T is its final temperature, and the
proportionality constant a is called the coefficient of linear expansion for
a given material and has units of (C)-1.
In this work the finite thermal expansion which correspond to finite
temperature interval t1 t0 will be calculated, therefore the average linear
coefficient is expressed as following:
(2
l1
L 1L o
a v a=
=)
L o (t 1 t o ) L o (t 1 t o )
It is equal to relative expansion (l1 / T0) when the temperature is raised by 1
degree. In this case using only two measures, the calculated average linear
coefficient is not reliable. The more reliable calculations can be made using
experimental dependence of thermal expansion versus temperature change l
= f(t t0)
Procedure:
The experiment was conducted with the help of an apparatus shown below:

Apparatus:Equipment:
1 rod;
2 heating spiral;
2
Figure 1

3 power controller;
4 thermos-element;
5 milivolt-meter;

6 indicator

Before starting the experiment, first measure the initial length of the metal rod
(L0), the length of the gap (Lx) and the temperature of the facility in which the
experiment will be conducted (t0).

Set the indicator 6 so that the reading of the indicator would be as close to 4
mm as possible. Indicator has two black scales, one of them is small scale,
another big scale. Always take the readings of black scale (not red!). The
small scale shows the millimetres and the big scale shows the hundredth of
millimetres. Set big scale to zero and small scale to 4 mm. Write down the
readings of the indicator n0 (n0 = 4 mm) and the room temperature t0 into the
Table 1.
The experiment is conducted by turning on the heating spiral so that it would
start heating up the metal rod. Be sure to input the measurements of each test
accordingly into the table. Next, we measure the gaps length by simply checking
the indicator (6). Note that the indicator measures the decrease of the gap, so be
sure to use this when calculating the expansion. Next, we measure the voltage
the thermometer (Ux). We wait for about 10 minutes before the first
measurement and gradually reduce the wait time with each other measurement
if the indicator and milli-Voltmeter stabilise sooner.
Once testing is complete proceed to determine the temperature difference (|t 0
tx|) oC for each test with the assistance of a graph that shows the dependency of
temperature difference based on voltage (t x is the rods temperature). Next,
calculate the increase of the rods length (l) with the formula: l = |Lx - L0|
Once testing is complete, turn off the equipment and place further away from
nearby people (the rod is still hot!).
Results:
Table 1

t0 =21,2

Nr.

Voltage of the
term element,
mV

Temperature
change
t=t t0, oC

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

5,1
6,05
6,05
6,75
7,2
7,4
9

70
82
83
94
96
102
124

n0 = 4
Indicato
r
reading
s
ni
3,36
3,27
3,25
3,19
3,13
3,1
2,92

mm
Absolute value of
thermal expansion
l = |ni - n0|
0,64
0,73
0,75
0,81
0,87
0,9
1,08

(l, mm)
1.08

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

110

120

130

140

(t t0, oC)

Figure 2

l = f(t t0)
Approximate thermal expansion coefficient:
3

a v a=

1,0810
0,46 124

l = 1,08 mm
L0 = 0,46 m
t = 124 oC

av 0.0189 10-3 oC-1

Conclusion: The thermal expansion coefficient clearly shows us how much the
metal expands in one dimension. Also, for figure (2) we can see that the
coefficient is somewhat constant (the red dotted line). Lastly, the experimental
data table (1) shows us that the thermal expansion is directly proportional to
the change of temperature.

References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_expansion
http://glassproperties.com/expansion/ExpansionMeasurement.htm
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/thermo/thexp.html