CHAPTER 22 THERMAL EXPANSION

EXERCISE 122, Page 266

1. A length of lead piping is 50.0 m long at a temperature of 16C. When hot water flows through it

the temperature of the pipe rises to 80C. Determine the length of the hot pipe if the coefficient

of linear expansion of lead is 29 10 6 K 1 .

Length L 1 = 50.0 m, temperature t 1 = 16C, t 2 = 80C and = 29 10 6 K 1

Length of pipe at 80C is given by:

L 2 = L 1 [1 + (t 2 - t 1 )] = 50.0[1 + (29 10 6 )(80 - 16)]

= 50.0[1 + 0.001856]

= 50.0[1.001856] = 50.0928 m

i.e. an increase in length of 0.0928 m or 92.28 mm

2. A rod of metal is measured at 285 K and is 3.521 m long. At 373 K the rod is 3.523 m long.

Determine the value of the coefficient of linear expansion for the metal.

Length L 1 = 3.521 m, L 2 = 3.523 m, temperature t 1 = 285 K and temperature t 2 = 373 K

Length L 2 = L 1 [1 + (t 2 - t 1 )]

i.e. 3.523 = 3.521[1 + (373 - 285)]

3.523 = 3.521 + (3.521)()(88)

i.e. 3.523 3.521 = (3.521)()(88)

0.002
Hence, the coefficient of linear expansion, = = 0.00000645
(3.521)(88)

i.e. coefficient of linear expansion, = 6.45 10 6 K 1

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3. A copper overhead transmission line has a length of 40.0 m between its supports at 20C.

Determine the increase in length at 50C if the coefficient of linear expansion of copper is
17 10 6 K 1 .

Length L 2 = L 1 [1 + (t 2 - t 1 )]

= L 1 + L 1 (t 2 - t 1 )

Hence, increase in length = L 1 (t 2 - t 1 )

= (40.0 m)(17 10 6 K 1 )(50 20)C

= (40.0)(17 10 6 )(30)

= 0.0204 m or 20.4 mm

4. A brass measuring tape measures 2.10 m at a temperature of 15C. Determine

(a) the increase in length when the temperature has increased to 40C

(b) the percentage error in measurement at 40C. Assume the coefficient of linear expansion of
brass to be 18 10 6 K 1 .

Length L 1 = 2.10 m, temperature t 1 = 15C, t 2 = 40C and = 18 10 6 K 1

(a) Length L 2 = L 1 [1 + (t 2 - t 1 )] = L 1 + L 1 (t 2 - t 1 )

Hence, increase in length = L 1 (t 2 - t 1 )

= (2.10 m)(18 10 6 K 1 )(40 15)C

= (2.10)(18 10 6 )(25)

= 0.000945 m or 0.945 mm

increase in length 0.000945

(b) Percentage error in measurement at 40C = = 100%
original length 2.10

= 0.045%

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5. A pendulum of a grandfather clock is 2.0 m long and made of steel. Determine the change in

length of the pendulum if the temperature rises by 15 K. Assume the coefficient of linear

expansion of steel to be 15 10 6 K 1 .

Length L 2 = L 1 [1 + (t 2 - t 1 )] = L 1 + L 1 (t 2 - t 1 )

Hence, increase in length = L 1 (t 2 - t 1 )

= (2.0 m)(15 10 6 K 1 )(15 K)

= (2.0)(15 10 6 )(15)

= 0.00045 m or 0.45 mm

6. A temperature control system is operated by the expansion of a zinc rod which is 200 mm long

at 15C. If the system is set so that the source of heat supply is cut off when the rod has

expanded by 0.20 mm, determine the temperature to which the system is limited. Assume the

coefficient of linear expansion of zinc to be 31 10 6 K 1 .

Length L 1 = 200 mm = 0.20 m, L 2 = 200 + 0.20 mm = 200.2 mm = 0.2002, temperature t 1 = 15C

Length L 2 = L 1 [1 + (t 2 - t 1 )] = L 1 + L 1 (t 2 - t 1 )

Hence, increase in length = L 1 (t 2 - t 1 )

i.e. 0.2002 0.20 = (0.20)(31 10 6 )( t 2 - 15)

0.0002 = (0.20)( 31 10 6 )( t 2 - 15)

0.0002
i.e. ( t 2 - 15) = = 32.26C
(0.20)(31106 )
i.e. the temperature to which the system is limited, t 2 = 32.26 + 15 = 47.26C

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7. A length of steel railway line is 30.0 m long when the temperature is 288 K. Determine the

increase in length of the line when the temperature is raised to 303 K. Assume the coefficient of

linear expansion of steel to be 15 10 6 K 1 .

Length L 2 = L 1 [1 + (t 2 - t 1 )] = L 1 + L 1 (t 2 - t 1 )

Hence, increase in length = L 1 (t 2 - t 1 )

= (30.0 m)(15 10 6 K 1 )(303 - 288)K

= (30.0)(15 10 6 )(15)

= 0.00675 m or 6.75 mm

8. A brass shaft is 15.02 mm in diameter and has to be inserted in a hole of diameter 15.0 mm.

Determine by how much the shaft must be cooled to make this possible, without using force.

Take the coefficient of linear expansion of brass as 18 10 6 K 1 .

Length L 1 = 15.02 mm = 0.01502 m, L 2 = 15 mm = 0.015 m

Length L 2 = L 1 [1 + (t 2 - t 1 )]

i.e. 0.015 = 0.01502[1 + (18 10 6 K 1 )(t 2 - t 1 )]

0.015 = 0.01502 + (0.01502)( 18 10 6 )( t 2 - t 1 )

i.e. 0.015 0.01502 = (0.01502)( 18 10 6 )( t 2 - t 1 )

0.00002
Hence, (t 2 - t 1 ) = = - 73.98 K
(0.01502) (18 106 )

i.e. the shaft must be cooled by 74 K

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EXERCISE 123, Page 268

1. A silver plate has an area of 800 mm 2 at 15C. Determine the increase in the area of the plate

when the temperature is raised to 100C. Assume the coefficient of linear expansion of silver to
be 19 10 6 K 1 .

A 2 = A 1 [1 + (t 2 - t 1 )]

i.e. A 2 = A 1 [1 + 2(t 2 - t 1 )] since = 2, to a very close approximation

i.e. A 2 = A 1 + A 1 2(t 2 - t 1 )

Hence, area increase = A 1 2(t 2 - t 1 )

= ( 800 106 m 2 )( 2 19 106 K 1 ) (100 15 ) C

= 800 10 6 2 19 10 6 85

= 2.584 10 6 m 2 or 2.584 mm 2

2. At 283 K a thermometer contains 440 mm 3 of alcohol. Determine the temperature at which the

volume is 480 mm 3 assuming that the coefficient of cubic expansion of the alcohol is
12 10 4 K 1 .

V 2 = V 1 [1 + (t 2 - t 1 )]

i.e. 480 109 = 440 109 [1 + (12 10 4 )(t 2 - 283)]

from which, 480 = 440 + 440(12 10 4 )(t 2 - 283)

and 480 440 = 440(12 10 4 )(t 2 - 283)

40
from which, (t 2 - 283) = = 75.76 K
440 12 104

and temperature, t 2 = 75.76 + 283 = 358.8 K

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3. A zinc sphere has a radius of 30.0 mm at a temperature of 20C. If the temperature of the sphere

is raised to 420C, determine the increase in: (a) the radius, (b) the surface area, (c) the volume

of the sphere. Assume the coefficient of linear expansion for zinc to be 31 10 6 K 1 .

(a) Initial radius, L 1 = 30.0 mm, initial temperature, t 1 = 20 + 273 = 293 K,

final temperature, t 2 = 420 + 273 = 693 K and = 31 10 6 K 1 .

New radius at 693 K is given by:

L 2 = L 1 [1 + (t 2 - t 1 )]

i.e. L 2 = 30.0[1 + (31 10 6 )(693 - 293)]

= 30.0[1 + 0.0124] = 30.372 mm

Hence the increase in the radius is 0.372 mm

(b) Initial surface area of sphere, A 1 = 4r 2 = 4 ( 30.0 ) = 3600 mm 2

2

New surface area at 693 K is given by:

A 2 = A 1 [1 + (t 2 - t 1 )]

i.e. A 2 = A 1 [1 + 2(t 2 - t 1 )] since = 2, to a very close approximation

Thus A 2 = 3600[1 + 2(31 10 6 )(400)]

= 3600[1 + 0.0248] = 3600 + 3600(0.0248)

Hence increase in surface area = 3600(0.0248) = 280.5 mm 2

4 3 4
r = ( 30.0 ) mm 3
3
(c) Initial volume of sphere, V 1 =
3 3

New volume at 693 K is given by:

V 2 = V 1 [1 + (t 2 - t 1 )]

i.e. V 2 = V 1 [1 + 3(t 2 - t 1 )] since = 3, to a very close approximation

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 4
Thus V2= (30.0) 3 [1 + 3(31 10 6 )(400)]
3

4 4 4
= (30.0) 3 [1 + 0.0372] = (30.0) 3 + (30.0) 3 (0.0372)
3 3 3
4
Hence, the increase in volume = (30.0) 3 (0.0372) = 4207 mm 3
3

4. A block of cast iron has dimensions of 50 mm by 30 mm by 10 mm at 15C. Determine the

increase in volume when the temperature of the block is raised to 75C. Assume the coefficient

of linear expansion of cast iron to be 11 10 6 K 1 .

Initial volume of sphere, V 1 = 50 30 10 = 15000 mm 3

New volume at 75C is given by:

V 2 = V 1 [1 + (t 2 - t 1 )]

i.e. V 2 = V 1 [1 + 3(t 2 - t 1 )] since = 3, to a very close approximation

Thus V 2 = 15000 [1 + 3(11 10 6 )(75 - 15)]

= 15000[1 + 0.00198] = 15000 + 15000 (0.00198)

Hence, the increase in volume = 15000 (0.00198) = 29.7 mm 3

5. Two litres of water, initially at 20C, is heated to 40C. Determine the volume of water at 40C

if the coefficient of volumetric expansion of water within this range is 30 10 5 K 1 .

New volume at 40C is given by:

V 2 = V 1 [1 + (t 2 - t 1 )]

= 2[1 + (30 10 5 )(40 20)]

= 2[1 + 0.006] = 2[1.006]

= 2.012 litres

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6. Determine the increase in volume, in litres, of 3 m 3 of water when heated from 293 K to boiling

point if the coefficient of cubic expansion is 2.1 10 4 K 1 (1 litre 10 3 m 3 ).

Initial volume of sphere, V 1 = 3 103 = 3000 litres

New volume at boiling point (i.e. 373 K) is given by:

V 2 = V 1 [1 + (t 2 - t 1 )]

Thus V 2 = 3000 [1 + (2.1 10 4 )(373 - 293)]

= 3000[1 + 0.0168] = 3000 + 3000 (0.0168)

Hence, the increase in volume = 3000 (0.0168) = 50.4 litres

7. Determine the reduction in volume when the temperature of 0.5 litre of ethyl alcohol is reduced

from 40C to - 15C. Take the coefficient of cubic expansion for ethyl alcohol as 1.1 10 3 K 1 .

New volume at - 15C is given by:

V 2 = V 1 [1 + (t 2 - t 1 )]

Thus V 2 = 0.5 [1 + (1.1 10 3 )(- 15 - 40)]

= 0.5 [1 + (1.1 10 3 )(- 55)]

= 0.5 + (0.5)(1.1 10 3 )(- 55)

Hence, the reduction in volume = (0.5)(1.1 10 3 )(55) = 0.03025 litres

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EXERCISE 124, Page 269

Answers found from within the text of the chapter, pages 263 to 268.

EXERCISE 125, Page 269

1. (b) 2. (c) 3. (a) 4. (d) 5. (b) 6. (c) 7. (c) 8. (a) 9. (c) 10. (b)

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