Thermal Expansion Calculator
Calculate the change in length, area, or volume of a material due to temperature change.
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Table of Contents
Thermal Expansion Formula
Thermal expansion is the tendency of matter to change its shape, area, and volume in response to a change in temperature. The linear expansion formula calculates the change in length of a material.
Where:
- ΔL = Change in length (m)
- α = Coefficient of linear expansion (1/°C)
- L₀ = Initial length (m)
- ΔT = Change in temperature (°C)
How to Calculate
To calculate thermal expansion, follow these steps:
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1Measure the initial length of the material
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2Determine the coefficient of linear expansion for the material
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3Calculate the change in temperature
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4Multiply all values together to get the change in length
Common Coefficients
Common coefficients of linear expansion (1/°C):
- Aluminum: 23 × 10⁻⁶
- Steel: 12 × 10⁻⁶
- Copper: 17 × 10⁻⁶
- Glass: 9 × 10⁻⁶
- Concrete: 12 × 10⁻⁶
Coefficients can vary with temperature and material composition. The values given are at room temperature.
Practical Examples
Example 1 Aluminum Rod
Calculate the change in length of a 2-meter aluminum rod when heated from 20°C to 70°C.
L₀ = 2 m
α = 23 × 10⁻⁶ /°C
ΔT = 50°C
ΔL = 23 × 10⁻⁶ × 2 × 50 = 0.0023 m
Example 2 Steel Bridge
Calculate the expansion of a 100-meter steel bridge when the temperature changes from -10°C to 40°C.
L₀ = 100 m
α = 12 × 10⁻⁶ /°C
ΔT = 50°C
ΔL = 12 × 10⁻⁶ × 100 × 50 = 0.06 m