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Q.Define co-efficient of linear and volume expansions in thermal expansion and establish the relation between them.

Assam AhsecAHSEC Higher Secondary (HS) 1st Year Examination 2020Subjective· 3mImportance★★★★★
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α=ΔL/(LΔT)\alpha = \Delta L/(L\Delta T), γ=ΔV/(VΔT)\gamma = \Delta V/(V\Delta T), and for an isotropic solid γ=3α\gamma = 3\alpha.

Coefficient of linear expansion (α): When a solid rod of original length L is heated through a temperature rise ΔT\Delta T, its length increases by ΔL\Delta L. The coefficient of linear expansion is defined as the fractional increase in length per unit rise in temperature:

α=ΔLL ΔT\alpha = \frac{\Delta L}{L\,\Delta T}

SI unit: K⁻¹.

Coefficient of volume (cubical) expansion (γ): Similarly, if a solid of original volume V expands by ΔV\Delta V when heated through ΔT\Delta T, the coefficient of volume expansion is:

γ=ΔVV ΔT\gamma = \frac{\Delta V}{V\,\Delta T}

SI unit: K⁻¹.

Deriving the relation γ = 3α: Consider a cube of an isotropic solid with initial side length L. On heating through ΔT\Delta T, each side expands equally (isotropic ⇒ same α in every direction) to a new length:

L′=L(1+αΔT)L' = L(1+\alpha\Delta T)

The new volume is:

V′=L′3=L3(1+αΔT)3V' = L'^3 = L^3(1+\alpha\Delta T)^3

Expanding using the binomial theorem and neglecting the very small higher-order terms (α2,α3\alpha^2, \alpha^3, since αΔT≪1\alpha\Delta T \ll 1): …

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