Physics – 2.2.1 Thermal expansion of solids, liquids and gases | e-Consult

The relationship between temperature change, coefficient of thermal expansion, and change in length is described by the following formula:

ΔL = α * L₀ * ΔT

Where:

• ΔL is the change in length of the material (in meters or other consistent units).
• α is the coefficient of thermal expansion of the material (a material property, typically expressed in °C⁻¹ or K⁻¹). It indicates how much a material expands or contracts for each degree Celsius (or Kelvin) change in temperature.
• L₀ is the original length of the material (in meters or other consistent units).
• ΔT is the change in temperature (in °C or K). ΔT = T_final - T_initial.

This formula demonstrates that the change in length is directly proportional to the original length, the coefficient of thermal expansion, and the change in temperature. A higher coefficient of thermal expansion means the material will expand or contract more for the same temperature change.