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Thermal Expansion Calculator

Calculate linear thermal expansion for materials

Thermal Expansion Calculator

Thermal expansion describes how materials change size with temperature. Most solids expand when heated and contract when cooled. Linear thermal expansion: ΔL = α × L₀ × ΔT, where α is the material's coefficient of thermal expansion.

  1. 1Linear expansion: ΔL = α × L₀ × ΔT
  2. 2Volumetric expansion: ΔV = β × V₀ × ΔT ≈ 3α × V₀ × ΔT
  3. 3α (steel) ≈ 12 × 10⁻⁶ /°C · α (aluminium) ≈ 23 × 10⁻⁶ /°C · α (concrete) ≈ 12 × 10⁻⁶ /°C
Steel rail 10m long · temperature rise 50°C=ΔL = 6mm12×10⁻⁶ × 10 × 50 = 0.006m
Materialα (×10⁻⁶/°C)
Steel12
Aluminium23
Copper17
Concrete12
Glass8
Invar (Fe-Ni)1.2

Fun Fact

The Eiffel Tower grows about 15cm taller in summer than winter due to thermal expansion of its steel structure. Expansion joints in bridges and railways exist for exactly this reason.

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