Thermal Expansion - Research Article from World of Physics

This encyclopedia article consists of approximately 4 pages of information about Thermal Expansion.

Thermal Expansion - Research Article from World of Physics

This encyclopedia article consists of approximately 4 pages of information about Thermal Expansion.
This section contains 1,017 words
(approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page)
Buy the Thermal Expansion Encyclopedia Article

The most easily observed examples of thermal expansion are size changes of materials as they are heated or cooled. Almost all materials (solids, liquids, and gases) expand when they are heated, and contract when they are cooled. Increased temperature increases the frequency and magnitude of the molecular motion of the material and produces more energetic collisions. Increasing the energy of the collisions forces the molecules further apart and causes the material to expand.

Different materials expand or contract at different rates. In general, gases expand more than liquids, and liquids expand more than solids. Observation of thermal expansion in a solid object requires careful scrutiny. Several everyday examples are: 1) The sag in outdoor electrical lines is much larger on hot summer days than it is on cold winter days. 2) The rails for trains are installed during warm weather and have small gaps between the ends to...

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This section contains 1,017 words
(approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page)
Buy the Thermal Expansion Encyclopedia Article
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