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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
L2−L1
α=
L1(t 2−t 1 )
Where:
L2−L1 is change of length
t 2−t 1 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

IV. Data / Table

Data Aluminum Copper

Room Temperature 24℃ 24℃

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

Computation:

For Aluminum (Al) For Copper (Cu)

24 ℃ ¿ 100℃ 24 ℃ ¿ 100℃

L1=52 cm at 24 ℃ ,t 1 L1=52.8 cm at 24 ℃ , t 1
L2=52 cm+0.1 cm L2=52.8 cm+0.08 cm
L2=52.1 cm at 100 ℃ , t 2 L2=52.88 cm at 100 ℃ ,t 2

∆ L=1.2mm−0.2 mm ∆ L=0.9 mm−0.1 mm

∆ L=1.0 mm∨0.1 cm ∆ L=0.8 mmor 0.08 cm

L2−L1 L2−L1
α= α=
L1(t 2−t 1 ) L1(t 2−t 1 )
52.1 cm−52 cm 52.88 cm−52.8 cm
α= α=
52 cm(100 ℃−24 ℃) 52.8 cm(100℃ −24 ℃ )
0.1 cm 0.08 cm
α= α=
52 cm(76 ℃ ) 52.8 cm(76 ℃)
α =0.000025 ℃−1 α =0.0000199 ℃−1

Percent Error:

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

Cu
Experimented Value− Accepted Value
% error= ×100 %
Accepted Value
0.000020℃ −1−0.000017 ℃−1
% error= ×100 %
0.000017 ℃ −1
% error=17.6 %
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V. 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=520 mm ¿
L2=521 mm ¿

L2−L1
α=
L1(t 2−t 1 )
α =20.51∈−20.47∈ ¿ ¿
20.47 ∈(100 ℃−24 ℃ )
α =0.039∈ ¿ ¿
20.47∈(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 ℃ =1.8 (76 )+ 32

∆ t=168.8 ℉

0.1cm
α=
52 cm(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 ofα ? Why?

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

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 at0 ℃ .

Aluminum (Al)
Al = 52cm L2=L1 (1+α ∆ t)
L1=¿ ; t 1=0 ℃
52 cm=L1 [ 1+0.000025 ℃ −1 ( 24 ℃ ) ]
L2=52 cm; t 2=24 ℃
52 cm
L1 = −1
0.000025 ℃ ( 24 ℃ )
∆ t=24−0 = 24
L1=51.97 cm
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 L1for L0makes a serious error in Equation [2]? Why?

L2−L1
α=
L0 (t 2 −t 1 )
0.1 cm
α=
51.97(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.

VI. 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
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length per unit per degree rise in temperature. A linear expansion coefficient is usually employed in
describing the expansion of a solid. The coefficient of linear expansion is constant of proportionally whose
value depends on the type of material.