Area expansion is like a photographic enlargement

Every linear dimension increases by the same percentage with a change in temperature, including holes. This assumes that the expanding material is uniform. .

Thermal expansion of an area can be calculated from the linear expansion coefficient.

Table of expansion coefficients

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Expansion concepts

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Area Expansion

Over small temperature ranges, the thermal expansion is described by the coefficient of linear expansion. If the linear expansion is put in the form

then

In most cases the quadratic term above can be neglected since the typical expansion coefficient is on the order of parts per million per degree C. The expression then becomes

which is equivalent to the expression at left.

Will a hole in a uniform metal plate get larger or smaller with heating?

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Volume Expansion

Over small temperature ranges, the thermal expansion is described by the coefficient of linear expansion. If the linear expansion is put in the form

then the expanded volume has the form

In most cases the quadratic and cubic terms above can be neglected since the typical expansion coefficient is on the order of parts per million per degree C. The expression then becomes

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Expansion concepts

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