Lesson 6 of 8 · Thermodynamics
Experiment⭐ 30 XPThermal Expansion
Thermodynamics.
🎯 Your mission
Run the experiment. Find out what really happens.
⚡ The twist
Nature loves to surprise the careful watcher.
Mind = Blown
🔬 The more you look, the more nature shows you.
Make a hypothesis first
Before you start: write down what you think will happen, and why.
What You'll Learn
Most materials expand when heated because particles vibrate further apart. Engineers allow for it with expansion joints in bridges and gaps in rails. Water is the famous exception below 4 °C, expanding as it freezes, which is why ice floats and pipes burst.
Key Words
Tap a word to see its definition.
Materials Needed
- ball and ring apparatus
- Bunsen burner or hot water
- tongs
- heatproof mat
Safety First
- Metal stays hot long after it stops glowing — always use tongs.
- Work on a heatproof mat with an adult present.
Steps
Read the explanation above and note the two key terms before you start.
Pass a metal ball through a ring at room temperature, heat the ball, and try again. Then heat the ring instead. Record both results and explain why the hole in the ring gets larger, not smaller.
Record what actually happened, including anything that did not match what you expected.
Write a conclusion that answers the question this lesson opened with, and state your uncertainty.
Check Your Understanding
Question 1
1 of 2Heating a metal ring with a hole in it makes the hole:
Where you see this in real life
This shows up in your everyday life more than you'd think.
Stretch Challenge
Try this in real life this week.
Try one experiment in real life this week — even a tiny one.
For the dinner table
“What's the most surprising thing you learned today?”
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Thermal Expansion
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