Thermal Expansion Calculator

The Thermal Expansion Calculator will calculate the:

Linear expansion or contraction of a bar of original length L₀
Area expansion or contraction of a thin plate of original area A₀
Volume expansion or contraction of a solid object of original volume V₀

Thermal Expansion Calculator
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Calculator Precision (Decimal Places)
Original length of the bar (L₀) m
Original Area of the thin plate (A₀) m²
Original Volume of the solid object (V₀) m³
Linear expansion coefficient of the material (α) K^-1
Initial temperature of object (T₀) °C
Final temperature of object (T) °C

Thermal Expansion Calculator Restrictions: The material is taken as homogenous.

Thermal Expansion Calculator Results (detailed calculations and formula below)
Final length of the bar calculations
The linear expansion or contraction of a bar of original length L₀ is m
The area expansion or contraction of a thin plate of original area A₀ is m²
The volume expansion or contraction of a thin plate of original area V₀ is m³
L = L₀ × 1 + α × ( T - T₀ ) L = × 1 + × ( - ) L = × 1 + × L = × L =
Final area of the plate calculations
A = A₀ × 1 + 2α × ( T - T₀ ) A = × 1 + (2 × ) × ( - ) A = × 1 + × A = × A =
Final volume of the object calculations
V = V₀ × 1 + 3α × ( T - T₀ ) V = × 1 + (3 × ) × ( - ) V = × 1 + × V = × V =
Thermal Expansion Calculator Input Values
Original length of the bar (L₀) =
Original Area of the thin plate (A₀) = m²
Original Volume of the solid object (V₀) = m³
Linear expansion coefficient of the material (α) = K^-1
Initial temperature of object (T₀) = °C
Final temperature of object (T) = °C

Please note that the formula for each calculation along with detailed calculations are available below. As you enter the specific factors of each thermal expansion calculation, the Thermal Expansion Calculator will automatically calculate the results and update the Physics formula elements with each element of the thermal expansion calculation. You can then email or print this thermal expansion calculation as required for later use.

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Discover Physics with free Physics Revision Notes and Physics Calculator: Thermal Expansion. This image shows the properties and thermal expansion formula for the Thermal Expansion. The Thermal Expansion Calculator will calculate the linear expansion or contraction of a bar of original length, the Area expansion or contraction of a thin plate of original area and the Volume expansion or contraction of a solid object of original volume

Final length of the bar Formula and Calculation

L = L₀ × 1 + α × ( T - T₀ )

Final area of the plate Formula and Calculation

A = A₀ × 1 + 2α × ( T - T₀ )

Final volume of the object Formula and Calculation

V = V₀ × 1 + 3α × ( T - T₀ )

Remark! You can find the amount of expansion or contraction Δ in each case by subtracting the original value from the final one. Thus,

∆L = L - L₀
∆A = A - A₀
∆V = V - V₀

If Δ > 0 , there is thermal expansion and if Δ < 0 , there is thermal contraction in the material.

Thermodynamics Physics Tutorials associated with the Thermal Expansion Calculator

The following Physics tutorials are provided within the Thermodynamics section of our Free Physics Tutorials. Each Thermodynamics tutorial includes detailed Thermodynamics formula and example of how to calculate and resolve specific Thermodynamics questions and problems. At the end of each Thermodynamics tutorial you will find Thermodynamics revision questions with a hidden answer that reveals when clicked. This allows you to learn about Thermodynamics and test your knowledge of Physics by answering the test questions on Thermodynamics.

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