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Interactive Simulations for Teaching Physics
Thermal Expansion
Authors: Ms. Giselle dos Santos Castro - Federal University of Ceara - UFC
Dr. Nildo Loiola Dias - Federal University of Ceara - UFC
CONTROLS:
- Choose one of the materials from 5 possibilities.
- Click on SHOW RULER to get a ruler that can be dragged to the desired position. When the ruler is shown, a MAGNIFY button appears on the screen to enlarge the ruler and the simulation elements. Around the MAGNIFY button there are four directional buttons for moving the scenario that makes up the simulation.
- Click on SHOW DIAL to observe the dial of the gauge.
- Drag the red dot on the edge of the dial display to zero the reading.
- In THERMAL BATH click ON/OFF to turn it on.
- Drag the black dot on the temperature selector knob to choose the final temperature.
- Click on START, to start heating.
- Click on RESET to return to initial temperature.
- Click on the arrows in the upper right corner to restart the simulation.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SIMULATION:
This simulation represents a Thermal Expansion Apparatus that allows the study of the thermal expansion of 5 different materials as a function of temperature variation using a THERMAL BATH. The THERMAL BATH, circulates a liquid (shown in blue) inside a hollow tube (sample), heating it. The THERMAL BATH always indicates the temperature of the liquid at a given moment (we will consider that the temperature of the hollow tube of the material under study is always equal to the temperature indicated in the THERMAL BATH). The temperature can vary from 25 ºC (room temperature) to a maximum temperature of 150 ºC. Each sample is fixed on the Thermal Expansion Apparatus at the point indicated by the red arrow and its right end touches the plunger tip of the micrometer dial indicator. Before starting the warm-up, the dial indicator must be reset to zero. A ruler allows the measurement of the initial effective length of the sample, that is, the initial length (Lo) of the hollow tube that will expand in such a way as to influence the dial indicator. The actual length of the sample corresponds to the measurement from the point indicated by the red arrow to the far right where the hollow tube touches the plunger tip of the micrometer dial indicator. The THERMAL BATH must be turned on and the final temperature must be chosen using the temperature selector knob. If the temperature chosen on the selector knob is lower than the current temperature, the THERMAL BATH will cool down. To start heating/cooling, the START button must be pressed.
For an analysis of the data, consult one of the proposed ACTIVITY GUIDE.
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