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Physics Lab:Coefficient of Linear Expansion

The experiment determined the coefficient of linear expansion of aluminum, copper, and steel by measuring the change in length of metal rods when heated. Initial lengths of the rods were recorded before heating to 98°C. The change in length was used to calculate the coefficient of linear expansion using the formula ΔL/Li=αΔT. The experimentally determined coefficients were compared to accepted values and percent differences calculated. The mean and standard deviation of coefficients from repeated trials were also reported.

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Natalie Sherwood
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3K views3 pages

Physics Lab:Coefficient of Linear Expansion

The experiment determined the coefficient of linear expansion of aluminum, copper, and steel by measuring the change in length of metal rods when heated. Initial lengths of the rods were recorded before heating to 98°C. The change in length was used to calculate the coefficient of linear expansion using the formula ΔL/Li=αΔT. The experimentally determined coefficients were compared to accepted values and percent differences calculated. The mean and standard deviation of coefficients from repeated trials were also reported.

Uploaded by

Natalie Sherwood
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Coefficient of Linear Expansion Experiment 5 5/7/2013 Submitter: Natalie Sherwood Trevor Rogers Jesse Ellis

Purpose: To determine the coefficient of linear expansion of aluminum, copper, and steel. Apparatus: PASCO linear expansion apparatus (Fig. 1), steam generator, heater, meter stick, gloves, metal rods.

Theory: The addition of heat to many materials increases the amplitude of atomic vibrations in the material, increasing the separation between the atoms, and causing the material to expand. The change in the length (L) of the material is given by: Li, is the initial length of the object before heating, and , is the coefficient of linear expansion of the material. This effect can also be caused by the removal of energy from the material. When the object's temperature decreases, the object will contract. Using equation 1 where T is the initial temperature subtracted from the final, the resulting length change will be negative. Additionally, L is dependent on the initial length (Li) of the object, and the longer the object, the greater the change in length. Procedure: We measured and recorded the lengths of each metal tube, and placed the first rod in the expansion apparatus. We then drove steam through the rod with the apparatus until the rod reached maximum expansion, this length was then recorded. Using equation 1, the initial and final lengths of the rod, and given values of intial and final temperature we calculated the coefficient of linear expansion for the material. This procedure was repeated for the remaining two rods. We then calculated the uncertainties of our experimentally derived values using the equation,

and determined the absolute differences between accepted and experimental values, and the % differences.

Data: Length Change and Coefficient of Linear Expansion Initial Lengths (Li): Aluminum: 70.2cm Copper: 70.3cm Steel: 70.3cm L mm 1.25 0.915 0.669 Temperature (T): Ti= 21oC Tf= 98oC T= 77oC acc *10-5 Co-1 2.34 1.76 1.24 exp *10-5 Co-1 2.31 1.69 1.24 Uncertainty (): (L)= 0.01mm Li= 0.01mm Ti= 2oC Tf= 3oC ac- exp *10-5 Co-1 0.03 0.07 0.00 %disc 1.28% 3.98% 0.00% *10-5 Co-1 0.168 0.131 0.099

Material Aluminum Copper Steel

Class Data: , mean and standard deviation () (1/Co) Aluminum Copper Steel 1 2.34 1.76 1.23 2 2.35 1.70 1.24 3 2.31 1.69 1.23 4 2.32 1.68 1.24 5 2.40 1.80 1.20 6 2.29 1.70 1.26 mean 2.34 1.72 1.23 0.038 0.048 0.020

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