EXERCISES

- The change in length or volume of

a substance due to transfer of heat
in addition to causing changes in
the temperature & the state of a
substance.
1.) LINEAR EXPANSION
– change in length.

Where:
ΔL = change in length
ΔL = αLoΔT Lo= original length
α = coefficient of linear
expansion

Note: As the temperature changes, the atoms & molecules of a

substance vibrate causing to expand when heated &
contract when cooled.
2.) VOLUME EXPANSION
– change in volume.

Where:
ΔV = change in volume
ΔV = βVoΔT Vo= original volume
β = coefficient of
volume expansion
≈ 3α

Note: Because a material usually expands uniformly in all

directions as it becomes warmer, its volume increases.
Linear & volume expansions at 20oC of some substances

Substances α(C°)-1 β(C°)-1

Aluminum 25 x 10-6 72 x 10-6
Steel & Iron 12 x 10-6 36 x 10-6
Glass (Pyrex) 3 x 10-6 9 x 10-6
Glass (Jar) ~10 x 10-6 ~30 x 10-6
Brick &Concrete ~10 x 10-6 ~30 x 10-6
Rubber ~80 x 10-6 ~240 x 10-6
Ethanol 250 x 10-6 750 x 10-6
Methanol 400 x 10-6 1200 x 10-6
Gasoline ~300 x 10-6 ~900 x 10-6
Air ---- 3670 x 10-6
 EXAMPLES:
1.) A gold engagement ring has an inner diameter of
0.015m and a temperature of 27°C. The ring falls into
a sink of hot water whose temperature is 49°C. What
is the change in the diameter of the hole in the ring?
αgold = 14x10-6(C°)-1

Ans: 4.6x10-6m
 EXAMPLES:
2.) A concrete sidewalk is constructed between two
buildings on a day when the temperature is 25°C. The
sidewalk consists of two slabs, each three meters in
length and of negligible thickness. As the temperature
rises to 38°C, the slabs expand, but no space is
provided for thermal expansion. the buildings do not
move, so the slabs buckle upward. Determine the
vertical distance of the buckled slabs.
αconcrete = 12x10-6(C°)-1

Ans: 0.053m
 EXAMPLES:
3.) A steel beam is used in the roadbed of a bridge. The
beam is mounted between two concrete supports
when the temperature is 23°C, with no room provided
for thermal expansion. What compressional stress
must the concrete supports apply to each end of the
beam, if they are to keep the beam from expanding
when the temperature rises to 42°C?
αsteel = 12x10-6(C°)-1, Ysteel = 2x1011 N/m2

Ans: 4.6x107 N/m2

 EXAMPLES:
4.) A steel beam is used in the construction of a skyscraper.
By what fraction ΔL/Lo does the length of the beam
increase when the temperature changes from that on
a cold winter day (-15°F) to that on a summer day
(105°F)?
αsteel = 12x10-6(C°)-1

Ans: 8x10-4
 EXAMPLES:
5.) A rod made from a particular alloy is heated from 25°C
to the boiling point of water. its length increases by
8.47x10-4m. The rod is then cooled from 25°C to the
freezing point of water. By how much does the rod
shrink?

Ans: -2.82x10-4m