Thermal expansion
Thermal expansion is the tendency of matter to change in shape, area,
and volume in response to a change in temperature.
WHY BODIES EXPAND ON HEATING?
At a given temperature, inter-molecular distances are definite. When a
body is heated it's molecules vibrate more energetically against the
action of inter-molecular forces and the displacement of molecules is
increased. Since the average distance between the molecules increases,
the dimension of the body increases. Consequently body expands.
Types of thermal Expansion on solid:
: Linear Expansion
: Superficial Expansion
: Cubical Expansion
Linear Expansion
Linear expansion means change in one dimension (length).
The constant which describes the thermal expansion properties of a
particular material, is called the coefficient of linear expansion. The
units of are per K or per c0.
We can understand thermal expansion qualitatively on a molecular basis.
Each atom vibrates about its equilibrium position. When the temperature
increases, the energy and amplitude of the vibration also increase. The
interatomic spring forces are not symmetrical about the equilibrium
position; they usually behave like a spring that is easier to stretch than
to compress. As a result, when the
amplitude of vibration increases, the average distance between atoms
also
increases (Fig. 17.9b). As the atoms get farther apart, every dimension
increases.
Heating an object with a hole:
every linear dimension of an object changes in the same way
when the temperature changes.
Superficial expansion
When a body is heated, the area of the body increases and it is known as
superficial expansion.
The units of are per K or per c0.
Cubical Expansion:
When a body is heated, the volume of the body increases and it is known
as cubical expansion.
The constant gamma characterizes the volume expansion properties of a
particular
material; it is called the coefficient of volume expansion. The units of
are per K or per c0.
For many substances, decreases at low temperatures. Note that
the values for liquids are generally much larger than those for solids.
Determination Of Coefficient Of Linear Expansion Of A Solid By Pullingers Apparatus
See at book
Expansion of Liquids
Liquids do not have a definite shape. They take the shape of the
container. Thus, we can specify a liquid by its volume. Hence, we can
speak of volume expansion only for liquids. Expansion of liquids is much
greater than that of solids.
A liquid is heated in a container. Heat flows through the container to the
liquid. Which means that the container expands first, due to which the
level of the liquid falls. When the liquid gets heated, it expands more and
beyond its original level. We cannot observe the intermediate state. We
can only observe the initial and the final levels. This observed expansion
of the liquid is known as the apparent expansion of the liquid.
If we consider the expansion of the container also and measure the total
expansion in volume of the liquid, then the expansion is termed as the
absolute expansion of the liquid.
Measurement of real Expansivity of liquid.
See in Book
Anomalous Expansion of Water
A common trend seen in substances through out, is the fact that all
substances expand when they are heated and their density decreases
and vice versa and when you cool something, it contracts and increases in
density. This is how substances generally react to heat. Lets now look at
what water does.
If you cool water, it follows the general trend till 4o C. Densityof water
gradually increases as you cool it. When you reach 4oC, its density
reaches a maximum. What water does next will astound you. When you
cool it further to make some ice, ie 0oC, water expands with further drop
in temperature meaning the density of water decreases when you cool it
from 4oC to 0oC. This behaviour is charted in the graph below.
The effect of this expansion of water is that the coolest water is always
present on the surface. Since water at 4oC is the heaviest, this water
settles on the bottom of the water body and the lightest ie the coolest
layer accumulates on the top layer. So in the winter, the top of the water
is always the first to freeze over. Since ice and water both are a bad
conductor of heat, this top layer of ice insulates the rest of the water
body from the cold of the winter,thereby protecting all the life in the
water body. Now you can truly comprehend how essential the anomalous
properties of water are for life.

Thermal stress

Differential expansion:

The difference in expansions of different substances when

they are heated through the same range of temperature is
called the differential expansion.