Thermal Expansion and Contraction

A decrease in a material's volume when its temperature decreases.

An increase in a material's volume when temperature increases.

It gains heat from the hot water and expands.

Volume decreases and density increases.

To allow for thermal expansion.

As temperature increases, volume typically increases.

Metal railway tracks expanding in the heat.

As thermal energy increases, particles move faster.

The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by one degree Celsius.

Bridges are designed with expansion joints to accommodate changes in length due to temperature variations.