lämpölaajenemiskertoimen
Thermal expansion is the tendency of matter to change its size or volume in response to a change in temperature. In Finnish, the phenomenon is called lämpölaajeneminen. It affects solids, liquids, and gases and has practical implications for engineering, construction, and everyday objects.
Expansion is described by coefficients of thermal expansion. For solids, the linear coefficient α measures relative change
Different states behave differently. Gases show large expansions with temperature and pressure changes following the ideal
Applications and implications: thermal expansion influences tolerances in mechanical assemblies, bridges, rails, and electronics. Devices such
Measurement and values: common solids have α ranging from about 5×10^-6/°C to over 25×10^-6/°C; steel around 11–13×10^-6/°C,