answersLogoWhite

0

A very basic explanation:

Heat is just vibrations of the atoms of that substance. So when you heat up a substance, it's atoms vibrate faster and more energetically. As they vibrate, the atoms bump and jostle each other, which pushes each apart from the others, causing the entire substance to expand slightly. Cooling a substance makes the atoms 'lazy', less energetic, and they dont bump each other as much. This allows them to pack more tightly together, thus the substance shrinks.

User Avatar

Wiki User

16y ago

What else can I help you with?

Continue Learning about Physics

Do liquids expand and contract at the same rate?

No, liquids do not expand and contract at the same rate. Different liquids have different coefficients of expansion, which determine how much they expand or contract with changes in temperature. This property is important when designing systems where temperature changes may affect the volume of the liquid.


What change a materials volume by expansion and compression?

Heating a material causes it to expand, increasing its volume, while cooling a material causes it to contract, decreasing its volume. The expansion and contraction of materials are due to changes in the intermolecular spacing as the temperature changes.


Does glass break or crack with temperature changes?

Glass can indeed break or crack when exposed to rapid temperature changes. This is because different parts of the glass expand and contract at different rates when the temperature changes, leading to stress within the material that can cause it to crack or shatter. This is why it's important to avoid sudden temperature changes when handling glass objects.


Who discovered the term thermal expansion?

The concept of thermal expansion was discovered by French physicist Charles-Augustin de Coulomb in the 18th century. He observed that materials expand or contract with changes in temperature.


How does thermal expansion relate to a thermometer?

Thermal expansion refers to the increase in size of a substance as its temperature rises. In a thermometer, thermal expansion is utilized by materials such as mercury or alcohol to expand and contract based on temperature changes, allowing the thermometer to measure and display the temperature.

Related Questions

What are substances that expand and contract called?

Materials that expand and contract in response to changes in temperature are typically referred to as thermal expansion materials. These materials expand when heated and contract when cooled, which can be useful in various applications such as in thermostats, bimetallic strips, and expansion joints.


Do different materials expand and contract and different rates?

Yes, different materials expand and contract at different rates due to their unique atomic and molecular structures. For example, metals tend to expand and contract more significantly with temperature changes compared to materials like glass or ceramics. This property is important to consider in engineering and construction to avoid structural issues.


Do liquids expand and contract at the same rate?

No, liquids do not expand and contract at the same rate. Different liquids have different coefficients of expansion, which determine how much they expand or contract with changes in temperature. This property is important when designing systems where temperature changes may affect the volume of the liquid.


When does wood expand and contract?

Wood expands and contracts in response to changes in temperature and humidity.


What change a materials volume by expansion and compression?

Heating a material causes it to expand, increasing its volume, while cooling a material causes it to contract, decreasing its volume. The expansion and contraction of materials are due to changes in the intermolecular spacing as the temperature changes.


What do changes in temperature cause rock to do?

Changes in temperature cause rock to expand and contract. This may cause them to crack, and pieces may break off.


What use of conservator tank in transformer?

To enable the oil in the transformer tank to expand and contract with temperature changes.


Does glass break or crack with temperature changes?

Glass can indeed break or crack when exposed to rapid temperature changes. This is because different parts of the glass expand and contract at different rates when the temperature changes, leading to stress within the material that can cause it to crack or shatter. This is why it's important to avoid sudden temperature changes when handling glass objects.


Who discovered the term thermal expansion?

The concept of thermal expansion was discovered by French physicist Charles-Augustin de Coulomb in the 18th century. He observed that materials expand or contract with changes in temperature.


Will an inert gas expand and contract with temperature?

It will contract.


How does thermal expansion relate to a thermometer?

Thermal expansion refers to the increase in size of a substance as its temperature rises. In a thermometer, thermal expansion is utilized by materials such as mercury or alcohol to expand and contract based on temperature changes, allowing the thermometer to measure and display the temperature.


What matter expand and contract?

explain how temperature affects matter using the words contract and expand