physics
LESSON 2
Thermal expansion
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Particle behaviour and expansion
-when substance is heated, its temperature rise which
increases the average kinetic energy of its particle.
Particles move further apart, increasing the
volume(expands)
-when a substance is cooled, its temperature decreases
which decreases the kinetic energy of its particle.
Particles move closer to each other and decreases
volume (contraction).
The unusual Expansion of water
unlike most other liquid, water does not always
expands when heated and contracts when it is
cooled.
At 40c water contracts (normal) but between 40c
and 00c it expands surprisingly. Its density is
reduced, that’s why ice floats on liquid water. This is
unusual expansion of water.
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Effects of unusual expansion of water
a) It causes bursting of pipes in very cold weather
b) It causes breaking of bottle
- When water is in pipe or bottle, make sure that there is
room for expansion.
c) It causes breaking of the rocks. When rock is filled with
water, the water on the surface freezes first. If the
temperature falls low enough to freeze the whole of the
water, the force of the expansion causes rock to splits.
d) Causes weathering of soil. In winter ground is
saturated with water and water freezes. There is large
expansion which forces the soil apart.
e) Freezing pond. When water freezes, ice floats on top
forming a layer. This affects aquatic animals.
Effects and application of thermal expansion
a) Separating stuck glass tumblers
- When glass tumblers are stuck, fill the top glass with a
little ice and put the bottom tumbler into a container of
warm water. After some minutes the top glass will
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contract a little, while the bottom glass will expand alittle
then it can easily be separated.
b) Rail way line gap. The gap allows expansion of metals
c) Tooth filling. When filing tooth consider rate of
expansion of tooth and filling. If the expansion rate is
different they will experience toothache espeacially
when drinking a hot drink.
d) Removing tightly screwd bottle cover
- A bottle screw on metal cap can be opened by holding it
under hot water. The hot water makes the bottle top to
expand more than glass bottle neck.
e) Gaps or rollers in bridges
f) Gaps in fences
g) Metal roofing have there ends placed one on top of
other to allow for expansion
h) Bimetalic strip. Is made of two equal leghth of
different metal riverted together i.e. copper & iron.
When heated, copper expands more than iron. The strip
bends towards that expands less.
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Uses of bimetalic strip
a) Fire alarm
When there is fire, the heat from the fire makes the
bimetalic strip bend and complete the circuit ringing the
alarm bell.
b) A thermostat in an iron
- A thermostat keeps the temperature of the an
appliance [Link] for example, the iron reaches
the required temperature, the strip bends and breaks the
circuit at the contact and switches off the heater. After
cooling a little the strip remakes contact and
turns the heater.
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