Thermal Expansion (Oxford AQA IGCSE Physics)

Revision Note

Thermal Expansion

  • When materials are heated, they expand

  • This expansion happens because the molecules start to move around (or vibrate) faster, which causes them to knock into each other and push each other apart

Heating a solid

Thermal expansion of a solid, for IGCSE & GCSE Physics revision notes
When a solid is heated, the molecules vibrate more, pushing each other apart
  • When this happens, the space taken up by the substance increases

    • The molecules themselves remain the same size

    • The space in between them increases

Thermal Expansion of Solids, Liquids and Gases

State

Expansion

Explanation

Solids

Expand slightly

Low-energy molecules cannot overcome the intermolecular forces of attraction holding them together

Liquids

Expand more than solids

Molecules have enough energy to partially overcome the intermolecular forces of attraction holding them together

Gases

Expand significantly

Higher energy molecules have enough energy to completely overcome the intermolecular forces of attraction holding them together

Hazards of thermal expansion

  • The expansion of solid materials can cause them to buckle if they get too hot

  • This could include:

    • Metal railway tracks

    • Road surfaces

    • Bridges

  • Things that are prone to buckling in this way have gaps built in, this creates space for the expansion to happen without causing damage

Useful thermal expansion

  • Thermometers rely on the expansion of liquids to measure temperature

  • It consists of a thin glass capillary tube containing a liquid that expands with temperature

    • At one end of the tube is a glass bulb, containing a large volume of the liquid which expands into the narrow tube when heated

    • A scale along the side of the tube allows the temperature to be measured based on the length of liquid within the tube

Liquid-in-glass thermometer

A liquid thermometer has a glass bulb containing a large volume of liquid, and a glass capillary tube with a linear scale where a thin column of liquid is formed inside it
As the bulb is heated, the liquid expands and moves along the capillary tube
  • Temperature-activated switches work when a bimetallic strip (a strip made from two types of metal)

  • The two metals expand at different rates so the strip bends by a predictable amount at a given temperature

    • When the bimetallic strip is cool, the circuit is not connected

    • When the bimetallic strip is heated, it bends and closes the circuit

Temperature activated switches

Without being heated a bimetallic strip sits horizontally below a contact point. When heat is applied to the strip it bends and touches the contact point
The bimetallic strip will bend upwards when heated, closing the circuit

Worked Example

The wooden wheels of horse-drawn carriages can be strengthened by putting a tight iron ring around them.

Which of the following actions would make it easier to fit the iron ring over the wooden wheel whilst ensuring a tight fit?

A    Heating the iron ring

B    Heating the wooden wheel

C    Cooling the iron ring

D    Cooling the wooden wheel

Answer: A

  • When metals are heated, they expand

  • So, heating the iron ring will cause it to expand, hence increasing its diameter

  • The expanded iron ring will fit (just) over the wooden wheel

  • When the iron ring cools, it will contract, reducing its diameter once again, and ensuring a tight fit around the wooden wheel

Examiner Tip

Remember that it is the material that expands, not the molecules. This trips up many students, causing them to lose marks.

As the substance is heated:

  1. This increase in temperature...

  2. Leads to an increase in kinetic energy, so that...

  3. Molecules and atoms move more quickly...

  4. And move apart

    • This separation of the molecules makes the substance bigger!

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