Question

In the text there is a table of coefficients of linear (α) and volume (β) expansions due to temperature changes. For the solid materials list, there is a relationship between α and β that allows you to find the value of β if you know α. Which of the following best describes that relationship?

Answer 1

The coefficient of volume expansion (ß) for solid materials is approximately three times the coefficient of linear expansion (α), as volume expansion accounts for changes in three dimensions.

Step-by-step explanation:

The relationship between the coefficient of linear expansion (α) and the coefficient of volume expansion (β) for solid materials is described by the formula β = 3α. This formula indicates that the volume expansion coefficient (β) is approximately three times the linear expansion coefficient (α) of the material in question.

This is because volume expansion is related to linear expansion in three dimensions (length, width, and height), so when a solid material expands with temperature, all three dimensions generally increase uniformly. Consequently, to calculate volume expansion, we apply the coefficient of linear expansion to each dimension, summing to three times the linear expansion.