Analysis

In conducting the experiment, the sources of the errors found were generally human,
mechanical and environmental errors. Specifically, when measuring the copper and
aluminum by using the meter stick, there is difficulty in accurately measuring small
distances. Secondly, the room temperature which, affects the results of the computed
value. Since, the experiment was held inside an air-conditioned room, the objects cools
faster than the normal temperature. Also, when the object was initially touched, the heat
coming from the person is being transferred to the object. Thus, this affects the reading
of the temperature from the multimeter causing the results to be further from the actual
value. Moreover, the experimenters reaction time of recording the resistance when the
gauge stopped moving. There are parallax error when recording the change of length
from the gauge. Lastly, the electrical glitches when using the built in gauge. For
instance, sometimes the gauge does not revolve in full cycle. Additionally, the impurities
in metals affect the rate of conduction of the heat in the copper and aluminum. As a
consequence, the computed value does not reach to the closest value of the actual.
Based on the gathered results, the computed values for the aluminum and copper tube
are the following:
Table A
Trial/Type of Tube
Change in Length of Tube, L
Resistance of Thermistor at Final

Aluminum Tube
1.25mm
40, 800

Copper Tube
0.92 mm
13, 250

Temperature, Rhot
Change in temperature of the Tube,

21.1728 C

50.57 C

(thot trm)
Experimental Coefficient of Linear

8.454 x 10-5 /C

2.5989 x 10-5 /C

Expansion, experimental
Actual
Coefficient

28.80 x 10-6 /C

16.80 x 10-6 /C

254.3697 %

54.6964 %

Expansion, actual
Percent Error

of

Linear

Table A shows how the experimental coefficient of linear expansion related to the actual
value of two metal samples. The amount the aluminum expands is 8.454 x 10 -5 /C

which tells that the experimental value is far from the actual having 28.80 x 10 -6 /C. On
the other hand, the copper obtained 2.5989 x 10 -5 /C which is farther from the actual
value of 16.80 x 10 -6 /C. Comparing these two tubes in terms of their experimental
coefficient of linear expansion, the aluminum tube is faster to expand than the copper
tube. When the aluminum tube is heated the separation between the atoms increases
causing the sample to expand. The resulting has contributed a slight significant change
in temperature, 21.1728 C, resulting to the expansion of aluminum.
Considering the variables from the coefficient linear of expansion, it implicates that the
amount of change in temperature, t, greatly affects the resulting expansion. Since it is
directly proportional to the change in length of an object. If the object's coefficient of
linear expansion is greater, then the results from the change in length is also large.
Sample Computation:

L
Lo t

1.25 mm
(700 mm ) (21.1728 C)

Aluminum Tube
Change in Length of Tube

L=1.25 mm

Final Temperature of the Tube:

t=t hot t Rm
t=45.2316 C24.1188 C

=8.43 x 10 / C
Percentage Error:

AV EV x 100
AV
error =

t=21.1728 C

23.80 x 1068.43 x 105

Experimental Coefficient of Linear

x 100
23.80 x 106

error =

Expansion:

error =254.3697 This sample computation shows that it really affects the expansion.
The percent error of aluminum and copper 254.3697% and 54.6964%, respectively, it
has already exceeded from the allowed percent error. This due to the estimation of

values for Thot and Trm. Thus, it is not reliable to use as a proof for comparing the values
to the actual values of expansion.

Conclusion
In order to determine the coefficient of linear expansion we need to obtain the value of
the change in length (L) and its original length (L o) of the material. Also, the change in
temperature (t) by having the difference of the final temperature from the thermistor
(thot) and the room temperature (trm). These computed values are used in the equation

coefficient of linear expansion,

L
Lo t

. Afterwards, this will be utilized in calculating

the percentage error.

The factors the linear expansion are change in temperature, length of the object being
heated and material used. To be more specific, the greater change in temperature the
greater expansion. Since, the separation of the atoms increases when it is heated. On
the other hand, the longer the original length of the material used will result to greater
expansion. The material used also affects since if there are materials compared they
might have the same value of dimension and temperature.
To sum it up, the greater the coefficient of linear expansion, the more it is going to
expand with given change of temperature. When experimenetally determined, the
original length, change in temperature, and the change in length must be found after the
two tubes are heated.