Thermal Expansion

Question 1

What is the definition of linear expansivity in solids?

Answer 1

Linear expansivity refers to the change in length per unit length of a solid for each degree change in temperature. It is typically measured as the fractional increase in length per degree Celsius.

Question 2

Q: How is linear expansivity determined?

Answer 2

Linear expansivity is determined by measuring the change in length of a solid material as it is heated or cooled and dividing it by the original length and the change in temperature. The formula is:
𝛼 = (Δ𝐿 / 𝐿0) / Δ𝑇
where
𝛼 is the linear expansivity,
Δ𝐿 is the change in length,
𝐿0 is the original length,
and Δ𝑇 is the change in temperature.

Question 3

What is volume expansivity in liquids?

Answer 3

Volume expansivity, also known as volumetric expansivity, measures the fractional change in volume of a liquid per degree change in temperature.

Question 4

How is volume expansivity of a liquid determined?

Answer 4

Volume expansivity is determined by measuring the change in volume of a liquid as it is heated or cooled and dividing it by the original volume and the change in temperature. The formula is:
𝛽 = (Δ𝑉 / 𝑉0) / Δ𝑇
where 𝛽 is the volume expansivity,
Δ𝑉 is the change in volume,
𝑉0 is the original volume, and
Δ𝑇 is the change in temperature.

Question 5

What is the relationship between linear and volume expansivities?

Answer 5

For isotropic materials, the relationship between linear expansivity ( 𝛼 ) and volume expansivity ( 𝛽 ) is:
𝛽 = 3 × 𝛼
This means that the volume expansivity is approximately three times the linear expansivity for materials that expand uniformly in all directions.