Question

Change in length of a material depends on its ______.

• A. initial and final length
• B. initial temperature
• C. intial and final length as well as temperature
• D. ony final length is sufficient

Answer 1

The correct option is C

intial and final length as well as temperature

The coefficient of linear expansion is the property of a material that denotes the extent to which a material expands upon heating. It can be defined as the rate of change of unit length per unit degree change in temperature. It is calculated as
$l_2=l_1(1+\lambda \Delta \text{T})$
where $l_2$= final length of the object,
$l_1$= initial length of the object,
$\lambda$=coefficient of linear expansion,
$\Delta \text{T}$= difference in temperatures.

Therefore the change in length of the material depends of the initial length, temperature difference and coefficient of linear expansion of the material.