- #1
Stolbik
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Homework Statement
I am working on this ahead of my fall class and don't actually want the answer...
just pointers to help me understand something.. Thanks guys! :)
I am really rusty with my general physics and calculus knowledge =(
The original question asks me to prove that, for a solid, the linear thermal expansion coefficients (in x, y, z directions) add together to give the thermal expansion coefficient as such:
B=ax+ay+az
where B is the thermal expansion coefficient
B=(deltaV/V)/deltaT
deltaV= change in volume
V=volume
deltaT=change in temperature in Kelvin
and a is the linear thermal expansion coefficient
a=(deltaL/L)/deltaT
deltaL= change in length
deltaL=length
So here are my questions:
Shouldn't the equation be B=ax*ay*az instead? for a solid like a cube you have to multiply the lengths to get the volume... Why isn't it the same here?
Also is there a way to get the volume from the lengths of an object with calculus? I don't remember =( Just remember you can get the area under a curve from doing the integral or the volume of an object made by a curve somehow too...
Homework Equations
B=ax+ay+az
where B is the thermal expansion coefficient
B=(deltaV/V)/deltaT
deltaV= change in volume
V=volume
deltaT=change in temperature in Kelvin
and a is the linear thermal expansion coefficient
a=(deltaL/L)/deltaT
deltaL= change in length
deltaL=length
The Attempt at a Solution
uh.. well my attempt so far has been to understand the question. I tried to define the Volume as Lx+Ly+Lz but then got stuck. Please don't give me the answer though! I got 3 months to work this out :)