Volumetric Thermal Expansion Coefficient

Volumetric thermal expansion coefficient, abbreviated as \(\alpha_v\) (Greek symbol alpha), also called coefficient of volumetric thermal expansion, is the ratio of the change in size of a material to its change in temperature.  It is a measure of how much the volume of a substance changes when its temperature changes.  The volumetric thermal expansion coefficient varies for different substances and depends on the material's properties and molecular structure.  It is typically positive, indicating that most substances expand when heated.  However, there are exceptions, such as water, which exhibits anomalous behavior by contracting between 0°C and 4°C.

The volumetric thermal expansion coefficient is important in various fields, including engineering, materials science, and thermodynamics.  It is used in the design and analysis of structures and systems that experience temperature variations to account for dimensional changes and ensure proper functioning.

   

Volumetric thermal expansion coefficient Formula
\( \alpha_v  =  ( 1 \;/\ V ) \; ( \partial V \;/\ \partial T ) \)
Symbol	English	Metric
\( \alpha_v \)  (Greek symbol alpha) = volumetric thermal expansion coefficient	\(in^3 \;/\ in^3\;F\)	\(mm^3 \;/\ mm^3\;C\)
\( V \) = volume of the object	\(in^3\)	\(mm^3\)
\( \partial V \) = infinitesimal volume change	\(in^3\)	\(mm^3\)
\( \partial T \) = infinitesimal temperature change	\(F\)	\(C\)
\( \frac{ \partial V }{ \partial T }  \) = rate of change of area with respect to temperature	\(F\)	\(C\)