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I. Introduction

Most solids expand when heated and this expansion always occurs in three
dimensions. However, the thermal expansion of solids is usually too small to be seen, but
since the expansion is proportional to the length of the object, the expansion will be
considerable if the object is large. This can be attain by using the formula
α= L2- L1L1 (t2- t1)
Where:
L2- L1 is change of length
t2- t1 is change in temperature
L1 is the initial length

Linear Expansion: The expansion of metal rod is proportional to its length and the
change in temperature. It is increase in length per unit of length at 0℃ per degree change
in temperature.

II. Objective

The main objective of the study is to determine the coefficient of linear

expansion of certain metals and also to evaluate the length before and after the
activity.

III. Materials

i. Burner and Hose

ii.Meter Stick
iii.Can (or beaker) to catch condensed steam
iv.Towel
v.Two Metal Rods (different materials)
vi.Thermometer
vii.Expansion Apparatus
viii.Boiler and Hose
ix.Boiler Stand

I. Data / Table

Data Aluminum Copper

Room Temperature 24℃ 24℃
Length of Micrometer screw at Room
52 cm 52.8 cm
Temperature
Setting of Micrometer screw at Room
0.2 mm 0.1 mm
Temperature
Setting of Micrometer at 100℃ 1.2 mm 0.9 mm
Change of Length of the Rod 1 mm 0.8 mm
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0.000025 0.000020
Coefficient of Linear Expansion
℃-1 ℃-1
Value of the coefficient of Linear 0.000024 0.000017
Expansion Table ℃-1 ℃-1
%Error 4% 17.6%

Computation:

For Aluminum (Al) 24℃ to 100℃

24℃ to 100℃
L1=52.8cm at 24℃, t1
L1=52cm at 24℃, t1 L2=52.8cm+0.08cm
L2=52cm+0.1cm L2=52.88cm at 100℃, t2
L2=52.1cm at 100℃, t2
∆L= 0.9mm-0.1mm
∆L= 1.2mm-0.2mm ∆L=0.8mmor 0.08cm
∆L=1.0mm or 0.1cm
α= L2- L1L1 (t2- t1)
α= L2- L1L1 (t2- t1) α=52.88cm-52.8cm52.8cm (100℃-
α=52.1cm-52cm52cm (100℃-24℃) 24℃)
α=0.1cm52cm (76℃) α=0.08cm52.8cm (76℃)
α=0.000025℃-1 α=0.0000199℃-1
For Copper (Cu)

Percent Error:

Al
% error= Experimented Value-Accepted Value Accepted Value ×100%
% error= 0.000025℃-1- 0.000024℃-1 0.000024℃-1 ×100%
% error=4%

Cu
% error= Experimented Value-Accepted Value Accepted Value ×100%
% error= 0.000020℃-1- 0.000017℃-1 0.000017℃-1 ×100%
% error=17.6%
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II. Question and Answer (Analysis)

1) To which measurement or reading do you attribute most of your error?

Explain.

The group find it more difficult to measure the specific reading of the micrometer
caliper in order to determine the more accurate and precise measurement.

2) If you had measured the original length of the rod in inches, and the
micrometer screw had given readings in inches, what value for α would you have
obtained? Explain.

L1=520mm 1 in25.4 mm=20.47in

L2=521mm 1 in25.4 mm=20.51in

α= L2- L1L1 (t2- t1)

α=20.51in- 20.47in20.47in (100℃-24℃)
α=0.039 in20.47in (76℃)
α=0.000025℃-1

The alpha didn’t change because ∆L is proportional to the rod’s initial length.

3) If lengths had been in degrees Fahrenheit, what value of α per degree

Fahrenheit would you have observed?

∆t=76℃=1.876+ 32
∆t=168.8℉

α=0.1cm52cm (168.8 ℉)
α=1.13 ×10-5℉-1

The linear coefficient change because α depend on the ∆t.

4) What unit is given in the tables for the values of α? Why?

℃ because the Room Temperature in measured on the said unit. Therefore the
units being use is ℃ not unless if it is converted to ℉ or K.

5) Which is the most serious, an error of 1mm in measuring the original length or
an error of 0.01mm in measuring the amount of expansion? Explain.
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The most serious is having an error of 0.01mmin measuring the expansion. This is
because it can affect the linear coefficient α thus having an error in length affect
little to α.

6) Do you think something more precise than a meter stick for measuring the
length should be used? Why?

Micrometer Caliper since it can measure small objects and has a more accurate
and more precise usage in measuring regular and irregular objects.

7) What would happen if the two specimens used in this experiment were
clamped together, side by side, and heated?

If the two specimens used were clamped together, the whole unit will bend towards
the material which has smaller expansion.

8) Use the length of one of the rods at room temperature as L2 and the value of
α obtained from the tables to calculate, by Equation [3], the value for L1 at 0℃.

Aluminum (Al)
Al = 52cm L2= L1 (1+ α ∆t)
L1= ______ ; t1=0℃ 52cm= L1 1+0.000025℃-
L2=52cm ; t2=24℃ 124℃
L1= 52cm0.000025℃-124℃
∆t=24-0 = 24 L1=51.97cm
α=0.000025℃-1

9) Substitute the value of the length at 0℃, found from Question 9, for L0 in
Equation [1] and solve for the coefficient of linear expansion, using other data the
same as before do you think that substituting L1 for L0 makes a serious error in
Equation [2]? Why?

α= L2- L1L0 (t2- t1)

α= 0.1cm51.97 (76℃)
α= 0.000025℃-1

It does not make any serious error since the length of the metal does not affect too
much in the linear coefficient.

III. Conclusion

The construction of common thermometers is based upon the general tendency of

matter to expand when heated and to contact when cooled. The coefficient of linear
expansion of a substance is its change in length per unit per degree rise in temperature. A
linear expansion coefficient is usually employed in describing the expansion of a solid. The
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coefficient of linear expansion is constant of proportionally whose value depends on the type
of material.