4.

Thermal Expansion
Most materials undergo thermal expansion with increasing
temperature; this means a change in length, area, volume.
Conversely, materials contract upon cooling.

Thermal expansion can be a problem (usually), or can be useful;

engineers and technologists must take it into account.

4.1 Linear Expansion

T
HOTTER

L
T+T

L
The increase in length L is given by

L = LT

If we take a rod of length L0 at temperature T1 and heat it to

temperature T2 (temperature difference T = T2 T1), the new length
LT at T2 is
LT = L0 (1+ T ).

where is called the coefficient of linear expansion with units K 1

or per kelvin.

is often taken as being independent of temperature, i.e. the amount

of expansion being the same per degree at all temperatures. This is a
reasonable approximation for this course although not strictly true.

4.2 Volume Expansion

Volume expansion is quantified by

V = VT

where is the coefficient of volume expansion. Volume and linear

expansion are related by

 = 3
coeff. of volume expansion

coeff. of linear expansion