Chapter 16.

Temperature and
Expansion
 Photo by
Blake Tippens

TEMPERATURE is a measure of the average kinetic

energy per molecule. The infrared radiation coming from
the air canal in the ear passes through the optical system
of the thermometer and is converted to an electrical
signal that gives a digital reading of body temperature.
 Objectives: After finishing this
unit, you should be able to:
• Work with Celsius, Kelvin, and
Fahrenheit temperature scales for
both specific temperatures and
temperature intervals.
• Write and apply
formulas for linear,
area, and volume
expansion.
 Thermal Energy
Thermal energy is the total internal energy of an object:
the sum of its molecular kinetic and potential energies.

Thermal energy = U + K

Internal energy -- spring analogies are helpful:

U = ½kx2
K = ½mv2
X is thermometric property: Expansion, electric resistance, light wavelength, etc.
 Temperature
Temperature is related to the kinetic activity of
the molecules, whereas expansion and phase
changes of substances are more related to
potential energy.

Although not true in all cases, a good beginning

is to define temperature as the average kinetic
energy per molecule.

T=
å ½mv 2

N
Temperature vs. Internal Energy

The large pitcher and

the small one have
the same temperature,
but they do not have
the same thermal
energy. A larger
quantity of hot water
melts more of the ice.
 Temperature Equilibrium
Thermal Equilibrium
Heat is defined as the
Hot Coals
transfer of thermal energy
Insulated that is due to a difference
Container in temperature.
Two objects are in
thermal equilibrium if
and only if they have the
same temperature.
Cool Water Same Temperature
 Thermometer
A thermometer is any
device which, through
marked scales, can give an
indication of its own
temperature.

T = kX

X is thermometric property: Expansion, electric

resistance, light wavelength, etc.
 Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics
The Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics: If two objects A and B
are separately in equilibrium with a third object C, then
objects A and B are in thermal equilibrium with each other.

Thermal Equilibrium
Object C
A
A B

Object C
B Same Temperature
Temperature Scales 1000C 2120F
The lower fixed point is the
ice point, the temperature at
which ice and water coexist
00C 320F
at 1 atm of pressure:

00C or 320F

The upper fixed point is the

steam point, the temperature
at which steam and water
coexist at 1 atm of pressure: 1000C or 2120F
Comparison of Temperature Intervals

Temperature Intervals:
1000C 2120F
100 C0 = 180 F0
5 C0 = 9 F0 100 C0 180 F0

If the temperature tC tF
changes from 790F to 00C 320F
700F, it means a
decrease of 5 C0.
 Temperature Labels
If an object has a specific temperature, we place the
degree symbol 0 before the scale (0C or 0F).

t = 600C

We say: “The temperature is sixty

degrees Celsius.”
 Temperature Labels (Cont.)
If an object undergoes a change of temperature, we
place the degree symbol 0 after the scale (C0 or F0) to
indicate the interval of temperature.
ti = 600C

tf = 200C
Dt = 600C – 200C Dt = 40 C0

We say: “The temperature decreases by forty

Celsius degrees.”
 Specific Temperatures
Same temperatures
1000C 2120F
have different
numbers: 0C 0F
100 C0 180 F0
tC - 00 tF - 320 tC tF
=
100 div 180 div 00C 320F
9
t = t F - 32
5 C
0

tF = t + 32
9
5 C
0
tC = 5
9 (t F - 32 0
)
Example 1: A plate of food cools from 1600F
to 650F. What was the initial temperature in
degrees Celsius? What is the change in
temperature in Celsius degrees?

Convert 1600F to 0C
from formula:
tC = 5
9 (t F - 32 0
)
0
5 5(128 )
tC = (160 - 32 ) =
0 0
tC = 71.10C
9 9

Dt = 1600 F - 650 F = 95 F0 9 F0 = 5 C0
æ 5 C 0
ö
Dt = 95 F ç
0
0 ÷
Dt = 52.8 C0
è 9 F ø
 Limitations of Relative Scales
The most serious problem with the Celsius
and Fahrenheit scales is the existence of
negative temperatures.
Clearly, the average kinetic -250C ?
energy per molecule is NOT
zero at either 00C or 00F!

T = kX = 0 ?
Constant Volume Thermometer
Absolute A search for a true zero
pressure of temperature can be
Valve done with a constant-
volume thermometer.
Constant
volume of a
For constant volume:
gas. (Air, for
example) T = kP

The pressure varies with temperature.

Absolute Zero of Temperature
P1 P2 Absolute P
Zero
T1 T2 T
-2730C 00C 1000C

Plot points (P1, 00C) and

00C 1000C (P2, 1000C); then
extrapolate to zero.

Absolute Zero = -2730C

 Comparison of Four Scales

373 K 2120F 672 R 1 C0 = 1 K

1000C
steam
00C 273 K 320F 460 R 5 C0 = 9 F
ice
tF = t + 32
Celsius K Fahrenheit R 9 0
C Kelvin F Rankine 5 C
Absolute

-2730C
zero
0 K -4600F 0R
tC = 5
9 (t F - 32
0
)
TK = tC + 2730
 Linear Expansion
DL = a L0 Dt Lo DL
to
L
DL t
a=
L0 Dt
Copper: a = 1.7 x 10-5/C0 Concrete: a = 0.9 x 10-5/C0

Iron: a = 1.2 x 10-5/C0 Aluminum: a = 2.4 x 10-5/C0

Example 2: A copper pipe is 90 m long at
200C. What is its new length when steam
passes through the pipe at 1000C?
Lo = 90 m, t0= 200C
Dt = 1000C - 200C = 80 C0

DL = aLoDt = (1.7 x 10-5/C0)(90 m)(80 C0)

DL = 0.122 m L = Lo + DL

L = 90 m + 0.122 m

L = 90.12 m
 Applications of Expansion
Iron Brass
Brass Iron

Expansion
Joints
Bimetallic Strip

Expansion joints are necessary to allow concrete to

expand, and bimetallic strips can be used for
thermostats or to open and close circuits.
 Area Expansion
Expansion on
heating.

A0 A

Area expansion is analogous to

the enlargement of a photograph.
Example shows heated nut that shrinks
to a tight fit after cooling down.
 Calculating Area Expansion
A0 = L0W0
A = LW DW
L = L0 + aL0 Dt W
Wo DL
W = W0 + aW0 Dt
Lo
L = L0(1 + aDt ) W
= W0(1 + aDt L

A = LW = L0W0(1 + aDt)2 A = A0(1 + 2a Dt)

Area Expansion: DA = 2aA0 Dt

 Volume Expansion
Expansion is the same
in all directions (L,
W, and H), thus:

DV = bV0 Dt b = 3a

The constant b is the coefficient DV

b=
of volume expansion. V0 Dt
 Example 3. A 200-cm3 Pyrex beaker is filled
to the top with glycerine. The system is
then heated from 200C to 800C. How much
glycerine overflows the container?
Glycerine: b = 5.1 x 10-4/C0 Vovr= ?
200C
Pyrex: b = 3a 800C
b = 3(0.3 x 10-5/C0)
b = 0.9 x 10-5/C0 V0 V

Vover = DVG - DVP 200 cm3

Vovr = bGV0 Dt - bPV0 Dt = (bG - bP )V0 Dt

Vovr = (5.1 x 10-4/C0- 0.9 x 10-5/C0)(200 cm3)(800C - 200C)

 Example 3. (CONTINUED)

Glycerine: b = 5.1 x 10-4/C0 Vovr= ?

200C
Pyrex: b = 3a 800C
b = 3(0.3 x 10-5/C0)
b = 0.9 x 10-5/C0 V0 V

Vover = DVG - DVP 200 cm3

Vovr = bGV0 Dt - bPV0 Dt = (bG - bP )V0 Dt

Vovr = (5.1 x 10-4/C0- 0.9 x 10-5/C0)(200 cm3)(800C - 200C)

Volume Overflow = 6.01 cm3

 Summary
Thermal energy is the total internal energy of an object:
the sum of its molecular kinetic and potential energies.

Thermal energy = U + K

The Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics: If two objects A and B

are separately in equilibrium with a third object C, then
objects A and B are in thermal equilibrium with each other.

A Thermal Equilibrium
Object C

B A B
 Summary of Temperature Scales

373 K 2120F 672 R 1 C0 = 1 K

1000C
steam
00C 273 K 320F 460 R 5 C0 = 9 F
ice
tF = t + 32
Celsius K Fahrenheit R 9 0
C Kelvin F Rankine 5 C
Absolute

-2730C
zero
0 K -4600F 0R
tC = 5
9 (t F - 32
0
)
TK = tC + 2730
 Summary: Expansion
Linear Expansion:

DL = a L0 Dt Lo DL
to
L
DL t
a=
L0 Dt

Expansion Area Expansion:

DA = 2aA0 Dt
A0 A
 Volume Expansion
Expansion is the same
in all directions (L,
W, and H), thus:

DV = bV0 Dt b = 3a

The constant b is the coefficient DV

b=
of volume expansion. V0 Dt
 CONCLUSION: Chapter 16
Temperature and Expansion