Linear expansion

Linear expansion means change in one dimension (length) as opposed to change in volume (volumetric expansion). To a
first approximation, the change in length measurements of an object due to thermal expansion is related to temperature
change by a "linear expansion coefficient". It is the fractional change in length per degree of temperature change. Assuming
negligible effect of pressure, we may write:

Volume expansion
For a solid, we can ignore the effects of pressure on the material, and the volumetric thermal expansion coefficient can be
written:

where

is the volume of the material, and

is the rate of change of that volume with temperature.

This means that the volume of a material changes by some fixed fractional amount. For example, a steel block with a
volume of 1 cubic meter might expand to 1.002 cubic meters when the temperature is raised by 50 K. This is an
expansion of 0.2%. If we had a block of steel with a volume of 2 cubic meters, then under the same conditions, it would
expand to 2.004 cubic meters, again an expansion of 0.2%. The volumetric expansion coefficient would be 0.2% for
50 K, or 0.004% K1.
If we already know the expansion coefficient, then we can calculate the change in volume

where

is the fractional change in volume (e.g., 0.002) and

is the change in temperature (50 C).

The above example assumes that the expansion coefficient did not change as the temperature changed and the
increase in volume is small compared to the original volume. This is not always true, but for small changes in
temperature, it is a good approximation. If the volumetric expansion coefficient does change appreciably with
temperature, or the increase in volume is significant, then the above equation will have to be integrated:

where

is the volumetric expansion coefficient as a function of temperature T, and

initial and final temperatures respectively.

are the

Thermal expansion
Thermal expansion is the tendency of matter to change in shape, area, and volume in response to a change
in temperature, through heat transfer.
Temperature is a monotonic function of the average molecular kinetic energy of a substance. When a substance is heated,
the kinetic energy of its molecules increases. Thus, the molecules begin moving more and usually maintain a greater
average separation. Materials which contract with increasing temperature are unusual this effect is limited in size, and only
occur within limited temperature ranges (see examples below). The degree of expansion divided by the change in
temperature is called the material's coefficient of thermal expansion and generally varies with temperature.

Zero Law of thermodynamics

The zeroth law of thermodynamics states that if two thermodynamic systems are each in thermal equilibrium with a third,
then they are in thermal equilibrium with each other.
Two systems are said to be in the relation of thermal equilibrium if they are linked by a wall permeable only to heat, and do
not change over time.[1] As a convenience of language, systems are sometimes also said to be in a relation of thermal
equilibrium if they are not linked so as to be able to transfer heat to each other, but would not do so if they were connected
by a wall permeable only to heat. Thermal equilibrium between two systems is a transitive relation.
The physical meaning of the law was expressed by Maxwell in the words: "All heat is of the same kind".[2] For this reason,
another statement of the law is "All diathermal walls are equivalent". [3]
The law is important for the mathematical formulation of thermodynamics, which needs the assertion that the relation of
thermal equilibrium is an equivalence relation. This information is needed for a mathematical definition of temperature that
will agree with the physical existence of valid thermometers.