Chapter 17, Problem 1RQ

Should a metal bar be heated or cooled to make it expand?

To determine

Whether the heating of a metal bar results in expansion of it, or cooling results in expansion of it.

Explanation of Solution

In general, all the metals expand on heating and contract on cooling but the rate of expansion and contraction differs for every metals. The rate of expansion depends on the following two factors:

1. 1. The type of metal used.
2. 2. The magnitude of temperature.

Thus, the expansion of metal bar results due to heating and not cooling.