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Physics Tutorial 13.2 - Thermal Expansion

There are 7 lessons in this physics tutorial covering Thermal Expansion. The tutorial starts with an introduction to Thermal Expansion and is then followed with a list of the separate lessons, the tutorial is designed to be read in order but you can skip to a specific lesson or return to recover a specific physics lesson as required to build your physics knowledge of Thermal Expansion. you can access all the lessons from this tutorial below.

In this Physics tutorial, you will learn:

  • What is the phenomenon of thermal expansion (contraction)?
  • How does it differ from the other types of matter's volume change?
  • How many types of thermal expansion contraction are there?
  • What are the factors affecting thermal expansion (contraction)?
  • Where is the phenomenon of thermal expansion (contraction) encountered in daily life?
  • How is the phenomenon of thermal expansion (contraction) applied in technology?
  • What are the main types of thermometers?
  • What property of matter do most thermometers use to operate?

Introduction

You may have noticed that when a balloon is left for a long time on a cold surface such as on a tiled floor, it shrinks. On the other hand, when you forgot it near a heat source, it may explode. Why does this occur?

Do you know why the railway tracks have a certain distance from each other?

Why electric wires are not completely stretched?

What happens to the volume of objects when they are heated up? Cooled down?

These and many other questions will get answers during the explanation of thermal expansion phenomenon, provided in this tutorial.

Please select a specific "Thermal Expansion" lesson from the table below, review the video tutorial, print the revision notes or use the practice question to improve your knowledge of this physics topic.

Thermodynamics Learning Material
Tutorial IDPhysics Tutorial TitleTutorialVideo
Tutorial
Revision
Notes
Revision
Questions
13.2Thermal Expansion
Lesson IDPhysics Lesson TitleLessonVideo
Lesson
13.2.1What is Thermal Expansion and Thermal Contraction?
13.2.2Linear Thermal Expansion and Contraction
13.2.3Area Thermal Expansion and Contraction
13.2.4Volume Thermal Expansion and Contraction
13.2.5Thermal Expansion and Contraction in Daily Life
13.2.6Bimetallic Strip. Thermostat
13.2.7Types of Thermometers

Whats next?

Enjoy the "Thermal Expansion" physics tutorial? People who liked the "Thermal Expansion" tutorial found the following resources useful:

  1. Physics tutorial Feedback. Helps other - Leave a rating for this tutorial (see below)
  2. Thermodynamics Revision Notes: Thermal Expansion. Print the notes so you can revise the key points covered in the physics tutorial for Thermal Expansion
  3. Thermodynamics Practice Questions: Thermal Expansion. Test and improve your knowledge of Thermal Expansion with example questins and answers
  4. Check your calculations for Thermodynamics questions with our excellent Thermodynamics calculators which contain full equations and calculations clearly displayed line by line. See the Thermodynamics Calculators by iCalculator™ below.
  5. Continuing learning thermodynamics - read our next physics tutorial: Absorption of Heat

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