Experiment 1: Thermal Expansion

Laboratory Report
Byron Leander Tan, Chelsea Leigh Tan, Kyle Gabriel Tanchuling, Ma. Agatha Beatrice Uson,
Angelica Uy, Louise Erika Vargas

Department of Math and Physics

College of Science, University of Santo Tomas
Espaa, Manila Philippines

Abstract more space - they tend to move into areas

The objective of the experiment is to
determine the coefficient of thermal
expansion of solids and liquids. There were
two activities done during the experiment
namely thermal expansion of solids and
apparent coefficient of expansion of water.
The results, which is 7.657x10^-6 / C, from
activity one was shown to be 96.8%
incorrect. The coefficient of thermal
expansion of water is 5.974x10-5 / C.
I. Introduction
Thermal expansion occurs when an
object expands and becomes larger due to a
change in the object's temperature. It is the
tendency of matter to change in shape, area,
and volume in response to a change
in temperature through heat transfer. To
understand how this happens, we need to
think about what temperature actually
is. Temperature is the average kinetic (or
movement) energy of the molecules in a
substance. It is a monotonic function of the
average energy of the molecules in a
substance. A higher temperature means that
the molecules are moving faster on average.
If you heat up a material, the molecules
move faster, and as a result, they take up
that were previously empty. This causes the
size of the object to increase. Materials
which contract with increasing temperature
are unusual; this effect is limited in size, and
only occurs within limited temperature
ranges. The degree of expansion divided by
the change in temperature is called the
material's coefficient of thermal
expansion and generally varies with
temperature. In predicting expansion, if
an equation of state is available, it can be
used to predict the values of the thermal
expansion at all the required temperatures
and pressures, along with many other state
functions. Unlike gases or liquids, solid
materials tend to keep their shape when
undergoing thermal expansion. Thermal
expansion generally decreases with
increasing bond energy, which also has an
effect on the melting point of solids, so, high
melting point materials are more likely to
have lower thermal expansion. In general,
liquids expand slightly more than solids.
The thermal expansion of glasses is higher
compared to that of crystals. At the glass
transition temperature, rearrangements that
occur in an amorphous material lead to
characteristic discontinuities of coefficient
of thermal expansion and specific heat.

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 These discontinuities allow detection of the and volume in response to a change
glass transition temperature where a super in temperature, through heat transfer.
cooled liquid transforms to a glass.
Absorption or desorption of water (or other
Temperature is a monotonic function of
solvents) can change the size of many
common materials; many organic materials the average molecular kinetic energy of a
change size much more due to this effect substance. When a substance is heated, the
than they do to thermal expansion. Common
kinetic energy of its molecules increases.
plastics exposed to water can, in the long
term, expand by many percent. Thus, the molecules begin vibrating/moving
The coefficient of thermal more and usually maintain a greater average
expansion describes how the size of an separation. Materials which contract with
object changes with a change in
temperature. Specifically, it measures the increasing temperature are unusual; this
fractional change in size per degree change effect is limited in size, and only occur
in temperature at a constant pressure. within limited temperature ranges (see
Several types of coefficients have been
examples below). The degree of expansion
developed: volumetric, area, and linear.
Which is used depends on the particular divided by the change in temperature is
application and which dimensions are called the material's coefficient of thermal
considered important. For solids, one might
expansion and generally varies with
only be concerned with the change along a
length, or over some area. The volumetric temperature.
thermal expansion coefficient is the most
basic thermal expansion coefficient, and the The equation used for finding the
most relevant for fluids. In general, coefficient of linear thermal expansion of
substances expand or contract when their
the rod was:
temperature changes, with expansion or
contraction occurring in all directions.
Where, e is the final reading
Substances that expand at the same rate in
every direction are called isotropic. For
between the disc expansion of the rod,
isotropic materials, the area and volumetric
thermal expansion coefficient are, Lo is the initial length of the rod. Tf
respectively, approximately twice and three
times larger than the linear thermal is the final temperature of the rod, is
expansion coefficient.
the initial temperature of the rod
II. Theory
e
Thermal expansion is the tendency of =
Lo (Tf )
matter to change in shape, area,

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 The equation used for finding the
coefficient of expansion of water was:
W 2W 3
= Move the disc until it is iin contact again
(W 3W 1)(t 1t 2)
Where W1 is the weight of a dry
pycnometer, W2 is the weight of a
pycnometer with water, W3 is the weight of
the pycnometer with water 50 above room
temperature. t1 is the temperature of water
30 above room temperature, t2 is the
temperature of water 50 above room
temperature.
III.Methodology
The initial length of the rod to be tested
was measured. It was placed inside the
steam jacket and both ends were tightly
closed with a stopper, leaving out a small
portion of each end of the rod got necessary
contacts. The steam jacket was mount in the
metal frame. The end of the rod near the
micrometer screw must be free to expand,
while the other end must be free to expand.
The first outlet of the steam jacket was
connects by means of a rubber tubing to the
boiler. The initial temperature of the rod was
measured by inserting a thermometer
through the central hole of the jacket. The
thermometer must be touching the rod. The
metal frame was connected to the
galavanometer. Move the micrometer screw
so that it just touches the end of the rod as
indicated by a sudden movement of the
galvanometer needle. The initial reading of
the micrometer disc was recorded. The disc
was unwinded so that the rod can expand
freely. The rod was heated for 20mins by
means of steam coming from the boiler. The
final temperature of the rod was recorded.
with the tod. The finalnreading of the disk
was noted. The differenfe between the two
readings of the disc is the expansion of the
rod. The coefficent of linear thermal
expansion of the rod was computer, and
afterwards the percent error.
A dry pycnometer was weighed wand
was recoreded as w1. It was then filled with
water. The room temperature was recoreded.
The pycnometer was heated with water to
about 30 celsius fegrees above room temp,
and the temp was recoreded as t1. The
pycnometer was weigjrd again, and was
recorded as w2. It was then cooled snd water
to room temperature. It was once again
heated and water to about 50 celsius degrees
above room temp, and was recorded as t2.
The pycnometer was weighed with water at
this temp and was recorded as w3. The
coefficent of expansion of water was
computed.
IV. Results and Discussion
A. Activity 1
Initial length of rod 54.80c
m
Initial reading of micrometer disc 0.041c
m
Final reading of micrometer disc 0.044c
m
Elongation of rod 3x10-3cm
Initial temperature of rod 21.5oC
Final temperature of rod 93oC
Experimental value of coefficient 7.66x10-
7 o
/C
of thermal expansion
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 Accepted value of coefficient of 24x10- T. Its volume at T is V =x y z .
6 o
thermal expansion /C
% error 96.81% At temperature T + T , its volume

A large percent error was obtained due to will be expanded to V +V where

random errors or maybe an early observation
and insertion of the thermometer in the V =( x +x ) ( y +y )( z +z ) xyz
jacket.
( x+ xT ) ( y +yT )( z +zT )xyz
B. Activity 2
xyz ( 1+T )3xyz
o
Temperature, t1 55 C
Temperature, t2 75oC V [ 1+3 ( T ) +3(T )2 +(T )3 ]V
Weight of empty pycnometer 26.10g
Weight of pycnometer and water 51.21g V [ 3 ( T ) +3(T )2+(T )3 ]
at temperature t1
Weight of pycnometer and water 51.24g V
=3 ( T )+ 3(T )2 +(T )3
at temperature t2 V
Coefficient of thermal expansion 5.97x10-
5 o
of water /C
For T 1 , the square and

V. Conclusion cubic terms of ( T ) can be

In the experiment, thermal expansion neglected. (Too small to make a
increases in the volume of the material as its difference) And so, we have
temperature increased; usually a fractional
change in length or volume per unit V
3 T
temperature change. The expansion is V
directly proportional to temperature change,
thus, areas that expands twice as much as The above equation relates linear and
lengths do. Volume expands three times as volume expansion coefficients.
much as lengths do. The greater coefficient We can define a new term called
of the expansion will have the greater
change in length that proves our earlier volume expansion coefficient, .
statement above. =3
So, we rewrite, to give:
VI. Applications
V
1. Derive the formula for coefficient = T
V
of expansion of water in activity 2.
- Consider a solid having the
dimensions x, y and z at temperature

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 4. The density of aluminum is
For a finite temperature change and 2700kg/m3 at 20C. What is its
density at 100C?
constant , we obtain:
- Linear thermal expansion coefficient
of aluminum: 24x10-6 /K
V = V T L
= T
Formula: L
V
=
V T
where is the linear thermal

2. Cite instances where thermal expansion coefficient

expansion is beneficial to man.
Cite also instances where thermal Take a cube of 1 meter on a side,
expansion is a nuisance. which at 20C weighs 2700kg

- One advantage of thermal expansion L

= T
is a bimetallic strip used as L
mechanical switch in the thermostat.
Conversely, it is a nuisance when it
L=L T
comes to roadway construction. If it
were constructed and poured as one ( 1 ) ( 24 x 106 ) ( 80 )
continuous slab, its expansion
(during the heat of the day) and 0.00192 m
contraction (during the cool of the
night) would cause cracks and
So the new cube is 1.00192m on a
separate where the road meets the
side and the volume is that cubed or
wall, or at some point on the road in
1.00577m3.
between, resulting to surface defects
and potholes.
Density 2700kg/ 1.00577m3 =
3. Why is water not used in liquid in 2685kg/m3
glass thermometer?
- Water, unlike mercury, will not rise The density of aluminum at 100C is
or fall at temperature changes 2685kg/m3 or 2.69g/cm3.
because it has a non-linear thermal
5. Two rods, one made of aluminum
expansion. Also, under atmospheric
and the other made of copper, have
pressure, water is only liquid over a
the same length of 1.0m at 30C.
small range of 100C which limits its
Which will be longer and by how
usefulness.
much when both rods were a)
heated to 80C b) cooled to 5C?

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- The coefficient of linear expansion x
24 x 106 /=
of aluminum is 24x10-6 /C, and that ( 1.0 m ) (5 C30 C)
of copper is 17x10-6 /C
]
a) When heated to 80C x=|( 24 x 106 ) ( 1.0 ) (530)|
Aluminum: 4
x x=6 x 10 m
=
L ( t f t 0 ) Copper:
6 x
17 x 10 / =
(1.0 m ) (5 C30 C)
x
24 x 106 /=
( 1.0 m) ( 80 C30 C ) x=|( 17 x 106 ) (1.0 ) (530)|
x=( 24 x 106 ) ( 1.0 ) (8030) x=4.25 x 104 m
x=1.2 x 103 m
x aluminum < x copper
Copper:
Aluminum will be longer at a
x
17 x 106 / =
(1.0 m ) (80 C30 C) cooler temperature by 1.75x10-4m.

x=( 17 x 106 ) ( 1.0 )( 8030) References

x=8.5 x 104 m [1] HyperPhysics. Thermal Expansion.

Retrieved January 31, 2017 from
http://hyperphysics.phy-
x aluminum > x copper astr.gsu.edu/hbase/thermo/thexp.html
Aluminum will be longer at
[2] The Physics Hypertextbook. Thermal
80C, and by 3.5x10-4m. Expansion. Retrieved January 31, 2017 from
http://physics.info/expansion/
b) When cooled to 5C
Aluminum:

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