Thermal expansion of solids
we distinguish three states of matter;
that molecules move faster as the temperature increases.
to explain what thermal expansion of solids is;
to carry out an experiment demonstrating thermal expansion of solids;
provide examples how thermal expansion can be used in the construction industry.
As you already know, solids have a definite shape and a definite volume. A solid does not easily change its shape or its volume. Does this mean that they are not subject to thermal expansionthermal expansion? Let’s find out by performing an experiment.
Examining the effect of temperature on the volume of solids.
a board,
two nails,
pliers,
candle,
coin.
Ask an adult to hammer the nails into the board at a distance equal to the width of the coin. It should be possible to move the coin between the nails.
Take the pliers and grasp the coin with them. Hold it over the flame of the candle for a minute. Do not touch the coin – it is very hot!
Still holding the coin in the pliers, try to move it between the nails. What is happening?
If the coin does not fit between the nails, it means that it must have increased its volume under the influence of heat.
Before you watch the film “Thermal expansion of solids”, write down a research question and a hypothesis. Watching the film, write down your observations and, finally, your conclusions.

Film dostępny na portalu epodreczniki.pl
Nagranie filmowe doświadczenia przeprowadzonego w laboratorium. W doświadczeniu wykorzystano: małą deskę z dwoma, lekko wbitymi blisko siebie gwoźdźmi, monetę pięciozłotową, zapaloną świeczkę, szczypce laboratoryjne. W szczypce wzięto monetę i wielokrotnie wsadzano w przerwę między gwoźdźmi. Podpisano: The coin freely goes between nails driven at a distance equal to its thickness. Następnie ponownie wzięto monetę w szczypce i podgrzano nad rozpaloną ogniem świeczkę. Próba wsadzenia rozgrzanej monety między gwoździe nie powiodła się. Podpisano: What happens when we heat a coin? A warmed-up coin can not squeeze between the nails although the gap between them has not changed. This means that the volume has increased due to the heat.
Solids change their volume due to changes in their temperature. This phenomenon is much more visible in the case of metals. In the table below you will find some examples, if the length of the objects, which measure 1 m, are changed and are made of different materials, if we raise the temperature by 50°C.
Substance (length of 1 m) | Change in the length (mm) after increasing the temperature by 50°C |
A rail made of steel | 0.6 |
A tube made of lead | 6.0 |
An optical fibre made of quartz glass | 0.02 |
The phenomenon of thermal expansion has a huge impact on our lives. Engineers have to take it into account when designing buildings and all metal structures: bridges, railway tracks or high‑voltage cables, as well as metal constructions of some buildings.
Decide whether the following statements are true or false.
| True | False | |
| A change in the temperature of a solid body leads to a change in its volume. | □ | □ |
| All solid bodies are made of molecules being at rest. | □ | □ |
| The average distances between molecules change when the temperature changes. | □ | □ |
Choose the correct ending for the sentence. A glass filled with hot water breaks, because
- the whole glass expands too quickly.
- the outer part of the glass expands more that its inner part.
- the outer part of the glass expands less than its internal part which comes into contact with the hot liquid.
- hot water expands and breaks the glass.
Choose the right sentence describing the relationship between the temperature of a body and its volume.
- The higher the temperature, the smaller are changes in the length of the body.
- The higher the temperature, the larger the volume of the body
- Changes in the length of bodies under the influence of temperature do not depend on the type of substance from which bodies are made.
Summary
Thermal (temperature‑induced) expansion is a change in the volume of bodies due to a change in their temperature.
Thermal expansion of bodies is associated with an increased velocity of molecules and a rise in temperature.
Gases expand the most while being heated, but the phenomenon of thermal expansion occurs in liquids and solids too.
The phenomenon of thermal expansion must be taken into account when designing buildings and equipment.
Keywords
thermal expansion, thermal expansion of solids, expansion gapexpansion gap
Glossary
rozszerzalność cieplna – zmiana objętości ciała na skutek zmiany jego temperatury
przerwa dylatacyjna – szczelina celowo utworzona w konstrukcji budynku lub budowli