Thermal Expansion

This equation describes linear thermal expansion: is the length expanded over, This is the initial length, This is the linear expansion coefficient, and is the change in temperature.




This equation describes the change in an expanding volume. The only difference here is that volume is used instead of length.


I'd like to add that these equations are only valid for a uniform expansion and hold little weight in a more general sense. We can still sit in awe of the direct relationship between and . This relationship seems quite obvious to us on an intuitive level. If you heat something, it will expand. Think about it, if you heat something long enough it will eventually melt; no matter what that something is. This is a reliable relationship my friends!