Thermal Expansion Calculator
Estimate linear expansion of materials with temperature.
Instructions
Enter linear expansion coefficient α, initial length, and temperature change. The tool returns ΔL and final length.
Formula
ΔL = α L₀ ΔT
Lf = L₀ + ΔL
About Thermal Expansion
Most materials expand with temperature. Coefficient α varies by material and temperature range; this tool assumes constant α.
Common Questions
Volumetric expansion?
For small expansions, β ≈ 3α for isotropic solids. This tool covers linear expansion.
Units for α?
Use per Kelvin (1/K). Example: steel ~ 12×10⁻⁶ 1/K.