C.

Summary
This experiment is all about Linear Expansion in which there are two metal tubes
to be tested. The aluminum metal tube was the first one, so its length was measured.
The aluminum tube is then mounted in the expansion base. The thermistor lug is then
attached to the threaded hole in the middle of the tube using a thumb screw. The multitester is set to ohms and was plugged into the expansion base to get the resistance at
room temperature. The dial gauge reading was set to zero. Water was heated using the
steam generator in order for linear expansion to take place. The rubber tube was
attached from the steam generator to the end of the tube farthest from the dial gauge.
The reading of the dial gauge was recorded at this instance. The resistance of the tube
during its hot phase was acquired through the digital multi-tester, producing the
respective temperature of the metal tube. The same procedures were also applied to
the copper metal tube.
The main objective of the experiment is to compute for the coefficient of linear
expansion (). is the ratio of the change in length to the original length for every
degree change in temperature. By performing the experiment, there are values obtained
which are: the initial length (L o), the increase in length (L), which is obtained from
converting the reading from the dial gauge to mm, the initial temperature (t rm) and the
final temperature (thot) by using the equivalent temperature of the acquired resistance
and if not exactly listed, was solve using ratio and proportion. The change in
temperature is denoted by t was calculated by subtracting the initial temperature to the

final temperature. Using the equation

L
Lo t

, the experimental value of the

coefficient of linear expansion was obtained.

Linear expansion is a type of thermal expansion. Thermal expansion has three
types: linear, area and volume. In the experiment, the linear type is solely considered.
By critical observations, temperature and thermal expansion go along with each other.
These two are dependent quantities. Whenever temperature is increased, expansion

takes place. As steam was generated, they both produced an increase in length. It
causes a transformation in the dimensions of a certain material.
D. Conclusion
The objectives of the experiment are to determine the coefficient of linear
expansion of a metal rod and to determine the factors affecting the change in length in
thermal expansion. Based from our observations, as the change in temperature
increases, the change in length also increases since the change in length is directly
proportional to the change in temperature and the initial length of the rod. The
coefficient of linear expansion is the ratio of the change in length to the original length
for every degree change in temperature. Therefore we can conclude that the coefficient
of linear expansion is directly proportional to the change in length. Based on the results,
aluminium has greater change in length than copper. We can conclude that an object
with greater coefficient of linear expansion will have the greater change in length. There
are three factors that may affect the change in length of a material in thermal
expansion. These are: the coefficient of linear expansion, the initial length of the body
and the change in the temperature. The change in length will increase if all of these
factors increase since they are directly proportional to the change in length of the
material.
After performing the experiment, I have gained more knowledge about thermal
expansion which is the tendency of matter to increase in volume or pressure when
heated. We found out that different objects can expand in such rates when there is a
change in temperature because they have their coefficient of linear expansion. Thermal
expansion has important applications in the construction of roads, railways, bridges and
etc. The expansion of an object must be taken into account when constructing such.
Because if there is no allowance for expansion, the constructed object may undergo
severe stress which can cause cracks and become damaged in some other way
because there is no room for expansion especially when the temperature is high.
One situation in which I could say that the concept of thermal expansion can be
applied in when constructing roads. The roads should be given spaces for expansion.

For example, we can see that roads are not continuous and they are being separated a
small slit to prevent buckling of the material or damage to the material which is
dangerous since the roads wont be fit to be used by vehicles and might also cause
damage to cars.