Front

What is thermal expansion?

Back

Thermal expansion describes how matter’s dimensions change with temperature due to increased molecular motion causing particles to occupy more space.

Front

What type of expansion do solids experience?

Back

Solids experience linear expansion.

Front

How do liquids exhibit thermal expansion?

Back

Liquids exhibit volumetric expansion with a coefficient β, generally higher than solids but less than gases.

Front

What is the behavior of gas expansion at constant pressure?

Back

Gas expansion follows ideal gas behavior, V ∝ T.

Front

Why must engineering account for thermal expansion?

Back

Engineering must account for thermal expansion to prevent structural issues, such as buckling in railway tracks and fractures in supports.

Front

What is the purpose of expansion joints in bridges?

Back

Expansion joints accommodate steel girder length changes due to thermal expansion.

Front

How do bimetallic strips work in thermostats?

Back

Bimetallic strips exploit differing expansions to bend predictably with temperature for switch control.

Front

What classic demonstration illustrates thermal expansion?

Back

Heating a metal rod anchored at one end can cause thermal stress that fractures a cast iron support pin.