Volumetric expansion Kelvin required?

  • Thread starter Thread starter litzkrieg
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Expansion Kelvin
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on calculating the volumetric expansion of gasoline in a steel gas tank due to temperature changes from 11.5 °C to 37.6 °C. The formula used is ΔV = β(V0)ΔT, where β for gasoline is 950 x 10^-6. The user initially questioned whether temperatures should be converted to Kelvin, but it was clarified that the change in temperature (ΔT) remains the same in both Celsius and Kelvin. Additionally, the impact of the steel tank's volume change on the overall calculation was highlighted as a crucial factor.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of volumetric expansion principles
  • Familiarity with the formula ΔV = β(V0)ΔT
  • Knowledge of temperature scales (Celsius and Kelvin)
  • Basic concepts of thermal expansion in solids and liquids
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the effects of temperature on the volume of liquids, specifically gasoline.
  • Learn about the thermal expansion coefficients of different materials.
  • Explore how to account for the expansion of both liquids and their containers.
  • Study practical applications of volumetric expansion in automotive engineering.
USEFUL FOR

Students in physics or engineering courses, automotive engineers, and anyone interested in thermodynamics and fluid mechanics.

litzkrieg
Messages
6
Reaction score
0
Volumetric expansion Kelvin required?

Homework Statement



Suppose that the steel gas tank in your car is completely filled when the temperature is 11.5 °C. How many gallons will spill out of the 20.9- gallon tank when the temperature rises to 37.6 °C?

Homework Equations



βgasoline = 950 x10-6
ΔV = β(V0)ΔT

The Attempt at a Solution



ok so this rele seemed like a plug and jug question to me and i just can't figure out where i went wrong. This is what I did, my only questions are where did i go wrong or maybe are the temperatures supposed to be in Kelvins or would Celsius work to?

(950*10^-6)*(20.9)*(26.1)
why isn't this right?

Thanks yall
 
Physics news on Phys.org


Since the size of a degree K and a degree C are the same, ΔT will be the same regardless of scale used.

Did you figure in the change in volume of the steel tank? Both are going to change (by different amounts) when the temperature changed.
 

Similar threads

Volume Expansion: Find Petrol Overflow After Temp Change
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
Thermal expansion of tank and contents.
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
6K
Volumetric Expansion and Overflow
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
5K
Coeff. of Linear Exp. of glass from vol expansion of content
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
8K
Thermal Expansion of Brass piston in Steel cylinder
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
10K
What is the linear thermal coefficient of expansion for the container?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
18K
Thermodynamics - Thermal Expansion
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
5K