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Physics

Heat and Thermal Energy – Expansion

The Concept of Heat and Temperature

Heat is a form of energy that moves from one point to the other due to temperature difference. When you dip one end of an iron rod into fire and hold the other end with your hand, this other end soon becomes hot because energy has flowed from the point dipped into the fire to this other end. This energy flow is what is known as heat. Temperature is a measure of how cold or hot a body is.

The Differences between Heat and Temperature

S/NHeatTemperature
1It is a form of energyIt is not a form of energy
2It is measured in joulesIt is measured in Kelvin
3It is a form of energy
transferred from body
at a higher temperature
to one at a lower temperature
It is a measure of the average
kinetic energy of the constituent
particle of the a substance
4It is a derived quantityIt is a fundamental quantity
5Other unit for measuring heat:
calorie (Cal), kcal, …
Other units include: 0F, 0C
6It can be determined using a
calorimeter
It can be measued using a
thermometer

The Kinetic Theory of Matter

The kinetic theory of matter states that:

  1. Matter is made up of atoms and molecules.
  2. The molecules are in a state of constant random motion.
  3. They possess kinetic energy because of their motion.
  4. The kinetic energy of the molecules is directly proportional to the temperature of the body.

EVALUATION

  1. Define temperature and state its unit.
  2. State three assumptions of the kinetic theory of matter.

The Effects of Heat on Substances (Expansion, Vaporization)

When heat is applied to a substance, it can lead to the following changes

  1. Chemical changes.
  2. Temperature changes.
  3. Expansion/Contraction
  4. Change of state (melting, vaporization, sublimation).
  5. Change in pressure in gases at constant volume.
  6. Thermionic emission.

Thermal Expansion

Most solid substances expand when heated. The rate of expansion varies from one solid to another. Expansion is more pronounced in gases followed by liquids and least in solids. A substance whether solid, liquid or gaseous consists of molecules. When the substance is heated, the molecules gain kinetic energy and move faster and hence the molecules take up more space in the substance. This leads to expansion.

Ball and Ring Experiment

Experiment to demonstrate expansion of a solid.

Apparatus: Bunsen burner, ball and ring apparatus

Solid Expansion

Procedure: Allow the metal ball to pass through the ring. Heat the metal ball for some time in the Bunsen burner and make it pass through the same ring. The metal ball will no longer pass through the same ring it passed through earlier as a result of expansion. When allowed to cool down for some time and allowed to pass through the ring once more, it will pass through because it has contracted and regained its original size.

Using Kinetic Theory to Explain the Temperature of a Body

According to the kinetic theory of matter, the average kinetic energy of the molecules is directly proportional to the temperature. This means that as the kinetic energy of the molecules increases, the temperature also increases. When a body is subjected to heat, the velocities of the molecules increases and hence they gain more kinetic energy this of course will lead to increase in the temperature of the body. On the other hand, if we reduce or lower the heat, the velocities of the molecules will decrease leading to a decrease in the kinetic energy of the molecules. Hence the temperature falls or reduces.

EVALUATION

  1. Give three differences between heat and temperature
  2. Explain the phenomenon of expansion using the kinetic theory of matter
  3. Give four effects of heat on a substance

Linear Expansion, Coefficient of Linear Expansivity

Types of Expansion

  1. Linear expansion
  2. Area or Superficial Expansion
  3. Volume or cubic Expansion

1. Linear Expansion

Linear expansion is expansion in length of a body. Different solids expand at different rates, this is because they have different coefficient of linear expansivity.

Coefficient of Linear Expansivity (α)

It is defined as increase in length per unit length per degree rise in temperature. The unit is per Kelvin or 1/K or K–1

α=Increase in lengthoriginal length×temperature rise=L2–L1L1(θ2–θ1)

L2 – L1 = Increase in length or expansion

θ2 – θ1 = Temperature rise or increase in temperature

θ2 is final temperature

θ1 is initial temperature

L2 is new length

L1 is original length

Question 1.

What is meant by the statement, the linear expansivity of copper is 0.000017/k?

Solution:

It means that the increase in length per unit length per degree rise in temperature of copper is 0.000017m.

Question 2.

A brass is 2 meters long at a certain temperature. What is its length for a temperature rise of 100k, if expansivity of brass is  1.8 x 10-5/k

α =Increase in lengthoriginal length×temperature rise=L2–L1L1(θ2–θ1)

L2–L1=αL1(θ2–θ1)L2=L1{α(θ2–θ1)+1}L2=2{1.8×10−5(100)+1}L2=2{0.0018+1}L2=0.0036+2=2.0036m

Question 3.

A metal of length 15.01m is heated until its temperature rises to 600C. If its new length is 15.05m, calculate its linear expansivity.

Solution:

L1 = 15.01m, L2 = 15.05, θ2 – θ1 = 60o, L2 – L1 = 0.04

α=Increase in lengthoriginal length×temperature rise=L2–L1L1(θ2–θ1)α=15.05–15.0115.01×60o=0.04900.6=0.000044=4.4×10−5/k

EVALUATION

  1. What is meant by the statement that the linear expansivity of copper is 0.000017/k.
  2. Steel bars each of length 3m at 290c are to be used for constructing a rail line. If the linear expansivity of steel is  1.0 x 10-5/k. Calculate the safety gap that must be kept between successive bars, if the highest temperature expected is 400
Experiment to Determine the Linear Expansivity of a Metal Block

Apparatus: Thermometer, Micrometer screw gauge, steam jacket, metal rod, meter rule

Method:

(i) Measure the length of the metal rod (L1).

(ii) Insert the metal rod in the steam jacket and take the initial temperature of the metal rod with thermometer (θ1).

(iii) Screw the micro-meter to touch the end of the rod and take the reading of micro-meter (xi).

(iv) Unscrew micro meter to make room for expansion of metal rod.

(v) Introduce steam into the steam jacket for several minutes then the metal rod will expand.

(vi) Screw the micrometer screw guage to touch the end of the metal rod again and take the reading again (x2).

(vii) Record the final temperature (θ2).

Calculation:

α=x2–x1x1(θ2–θ1)

Conclusion: Since all parameters are known, α can be calculated

2. Area or Superficial Expansivity (β)

It is defined as the increase in area per unit area per degree rise in temperature

β=Increase in Areaoriginal area×temperature rise=A2–A1A1(θ2–θ1)

A2 – A1 = Increase in area or expansion

θ2 – θ1 = Temperature rise or increase in temperature

θ2 is final temperature

θ1 is initial temperature

A2 is new area

A1 is original area

Relationship between Linear Expansivity and Area Expansivity: β = 2α

Question 1: A metal cube of cross sectional area 3.45m2 at 00C is heated at a temperature rise of  70K, when the final length of the cube is 3m. Find the:

(i) coefficient of superficial expansivity.

(ii) coefficient of linear expansivity.

Solution

(i) β=Increase in Areaoriginal area×temperature rise=A2–A1A1(θ2–θ1)A2=L2=3×3=9m2θ2–θ1=70kA1=3.45m2β=9–3.453.45×70=5.55241.5=0.023/k=2.3×10−2/k

(ii) β=2αα=β2α=2.3×10−22=1.15×10−2K−1

EVALUATION

  1. The linear expansivity of a metal is 0.000019 per k. What will the area of 400mm2be if its temperature is raised by 100

3. Cubic Expansivity

Experiment to Determine the Apparent Cubic Expansivity
Cubic or Volume Expansivity (γ)

It is defined as the increase in volume per unit volume per degree rise in temperature

γ=Increase in Volumeoriginal volume×temperature rise=V2–V1V1(θ2–θ1)

V2 – V1 = Increase in volume or expansion

θ2 – θ1 = Temperature rise or increase in temperature

θ2 is final temperature

θ1 is initial temperature

V2 is final volume

V1 is original volume

Relationship between Linear Expansivity and Cubic Expansivity: γ = 3α

Question 2: The increase in the volume of 10cm3 of mercury when the temperature rises by 1000C is 0.182cm3. What is cubic expansivity of mercury.

γ=Increase in Volumeoriginal volume×temperature rise=V2–V1V1(θ2–θ1)

V2 – V1 = Increase in volume = 0.182cm2

θ2 – θ1 = Temperature rise = 100oC

V1 = original volume = 10cm2

γ=0.18210×100=0.1821000=0.00082/k=1.82×10−4K−1

Expansion in Liquids

Expansion in liquid is complicated by the expansion of the container because while the liquid expands, the container equally expands. So it is important to differentiate between real and apparent cubic expansivity.

Real or Absolute Cubic Expansivity (γr):

It is defined as the increase in volume per unit volume per degree rise in temperature.

Apparent Cubic Expansivity (γa):

It is defined as the increase in volume per unit volume per degree rise in temperature when the liquid is heated in an expansible vessel.

Question 3.

A cube with side 100cm at 00C is heated to 1000C. If the side becomes 101cm long find,

(a) The linear expansivity

(b) The cubic expansivity

Solution

(a) L1 = 100cm = 1m, L2 = 101cm = 1.01m, θ2 = 100o, θ1 = 0o

γ=increase in volumeoriginal volume×temperature rise=V2–V1V1(θ2–θ1)γ=1.01–11×100=0.01100=0.0001/k=1.0×10−4/k

(b) γ=3αγ=3×1.0×10−4=3.0×10−4/k

Determination of the Apparent Cubic Expansivity of a Liquid

Apparent Cubic Expansion of a Liquid

Apparatus: Thermometer, Density bottle, Retort stand, Water, Source of heat, Beaker, Beam balance, Liquid, Stirrer.

Method:

(i) Dry the density bottle and weigh it (M).

(ii) Fill the density bottle with the liquid that the apparent cubic expansivity is required and weigh it (M1)

(iii) Immerse the density bottle into a beaker of water and suspend with a thread on the clamp of the retort stand.

(iv) Take the original temperature of the water in the beaker (θ1).

(v) Heat the set up gently until the water boils.

(vi) Some liquid are expelled through the orifice of the bottle cover, the heating continues until no liquid is seen expelled again.

(vii) The final temperature of water is taken (θ2)

(viii) The density bottle is removed and wiped dry and re-weighed (M2).

Calculation

Mass of empty density bottle = M

Mass of density bottle + liquid = M1

Original temperature of water = θ1

Final temperature of liquid = θ2

Mass of remaining liquid + density bottle = M2

γα=Mass of liquid expelledMass of liquid remaining×temperature rise=M1–M2M2–M(θ2–θ1)

Conclusion

Since all the parameters are known, apparent cubic expansivity can be calculated.

EVALUATION

  1. Differentiate between Real cubic expansivity and Apparent cubic expansivity.
  2. A glass bottle full of mercury has mass 500g on being heated through 350C, 2.43g of mercury was expelled. Calculate the mass of mercury remaining in the bottle ( cubicexpansivity of mercury is 1.8 x 10-4/k and linear expansivity of glass is 8.0 x 10-6/k)

Applications of Expansion

(A) Advantages of Expansion

  1. The use of the bimetallic strip in:

(i) Fire alarm

(ii) Bi-metallic thermometer

(iii) Temperature regulator in electric pressing iron

  1. Red hot rivet used in ship
  2. Fitting of wheels in rims
  3. Removal of tight glass stopper

A1. Bi-metallic Strip

It consists of two different metals joined together. They expand at different rates when heated e.g brass and iron.

Bimetallic strip demonstration:

Application:

  1. Electric Fireman
  2. Electric Pressing Iron
  3. Bimetallic Thermometer

A2. Red-hot Rivet Used in Ships

Steel plates and girders which are used in ship building and other constructional works are usually riveted together.

A3. Fitting of Wheels in Rims

The large driving wheels of locomotive are fixed with steel tyre which are renewed from time to time as they wear out. In order to ensure a tight fitting, the tyre is made slightly smaller in diameter than the wheel. The tyre contracts on cooling thus ensuring tight fitting.

A4. Removal of Tight Glass Stopper

A tight glass stopper can be removed by standing the bottle in hot water. The glass bottle expands and the stopper becomes loose.

(B) Disadvantages of Expansion

  1. Expansion of metal on steel bridges/galvanized iron sheets: Cracking sounds are heard when galvanized iron sheets used in the roof of buildings are being heated. This is due to the expansion of sheet when heated. Bridges  made of steel equally expand during hot weather.
  2. Cracking of glass cup when hot water is poured into it: When hot water is poured into the glass tumbler, it often cracks due to uneven expansion of the interior walls and exterior walls of the glass cup.
  3. Expansion of balance wheel of a wrist watch. This makes the watch to give wrong reading
  4. Sagging of overhead wires: Telegraph wires when laid in hot weather are allowed to sag so that in cold weather they can contract without snapping.
  5. Expansion of railway lines: Gaps are left between rails in railway lines to allow for free expansion and contraction of rails, without the gaps, there would be buckling of rails.

GENERAL EVALUATION

  1. Explain four advantages of expansion in solids.
  2. Explain three disadvantages of expansion in solids

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT

  1. Give three applications of expansion/contraction
  2. What is a bimetallic strip? Give two applications of a bimetallic strip
  3. Explain how a thermostat regulates the temperature of an electric iron
  4. Mention three solids that undergoes sublimation
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