Temperature affects the expansion of materials because as temperature increases, the molecules within the material start to vibrate more rapidly, causing them to take up more space and expand. This expansion is known as linear temperature expansion.
The formula for linear temperature expansion is ΔL = αL0ΔT, where ΔL represents the change in length, α is the coefficient of linear expansion, L0 is the original length, and ΔT is the change in temperature.
The coefficient of linear expansion is a constant that represents how much a material expands or contracts for every degree of temperature change. It is typically measured in units of length per degree Celsius (or length per degree Fahrenheit).
To use an online calculator for linear temperature expansion, you will need to input the original length of the material, the coefficient of linear expansion, and the change in temperature. The calculator will then use the formula ΔL = αL0ΔT to calculate the change in length.
Understanding linear temperature expansion is important in various fields such as engineering, construction, and manufacturing. It is used to design and construct structures and machines that can withstand temperature changes without causing damage. It is also important in fields such as thermodynamics and materials science for studying the properties of different materials.