Thermodynamics
Thermal Expansion Calculator
🌡️ ΔL = α · L₀ · ΔT
Calculate linear, area, and volume thermal expansion for materials.
Material Properties
Expansion Type
Linear: length change | Area: surface area change | Volume: volume change
Material
Select a material or choose Custom to enter your own coefficient
Coefficient (α)
×10⁻⁶/°C
Coefficient of thermal expansion (×10⁻⁶ per °C)
Temperature & Dimensions
Initial Length / Size
mm
Initial length (linear), side (area), or side (volume)
Initial Temperature
°C
Starting temperature in °C
Final Temperature
°C
Final temperature in °C
Expansion
0%
Change in Size
0 mm
Δ = α · L₀ · ΔT
Expansion Type
Linear
Material
Steel
Temperature Change
0 °C
Final Size
0 mm
📊 Detailed Breakdown
| Parameter | Value | Unit |
|---|
How the formula works
Linear: ΔL = α · L₀ · ΔT
- Linear Expansion: ΔL = α · L₀ · ΔT (length change)
- Area Expansion: ΔA = 2α · A₀ · ΔT (surface area change)
- Volume Expansion: ΔV = 3α · V₀ · ΔT (volume change)
- α = Coefficient of thermal expansion (°C⁻¹)
- L₀ = Initial length, A₀ = Initial area, V₀ = Initial volume
- ΔT = Temperature change (T_final − T_initial)
- Common coefficients (×10⁻⁶/°C): Steel (12), Aluminum (23), Copper (17), Glass (9)
- Final Size = Initial Size + Change