# Thermal Expansion linear vs area expansion

1. Dec 14, 2015

### Searay330

• Member warned to use the formatting template for homework posts.

this is a picture of my notes for thermal expansion for linear vs area.
my question is why does the area coefficient of expansion for the area = 2(liner coefficient of expansion).
any insight would be appreciated.

2. Dec 14, 2015

### Staff: Mentor

As an example to ponder, consider an object with a flat, square surface that is L units of length on each side. Apply the linear expansion concept to each dimension and work out an expression for the change in area. Then consider that the coefficient of linear expansion $\alpha$ is typically on the order of a few parts per million per degree C. Is there an obvious simplification?

3. Dec 14, 2015

### Searay330

im not sure the change in area would be equal to the new L2 and that is the only dimension that changes

4. Dec 14, 2015

### haruspex

No, the change in area would not equal L2.
If the original side of the square is L, the original area is L2.
If the new side length is $L+\alpha L\Delta T$, what is new area? How much has the area increased by?

5. Dec 15, 2015

### Searay330

its increased by 2(αLΔT) one for each side

6. Dec 15, 2015

### haruspex

7. Dec 15, 2015

yes