SQA Higher Physics Practice Exam

Question: 1 / 400

What does thermal expansion refer to?

The decrease in volume of materials

The increase in volume or length due to temperature rise

Thermal expansion refers to the phenomenon where materials increase in size—either in volume or length—when their temperature rises. As the temperature of a substance increases, the kinetic energy of its particles increases, causing them to move apart from each other. This effect can occur in solids, liquids, and gases, though it often manifests differently depending on the state of matter.

For example, when metal is heated, it expands in length; when a gas is heated, it can expand in both volume and pressure if confined. This principle is critical in various applications, from engineering where components must account for changes in size due to temperature fluctuations, to everyday occurrences like the use of a bimetallic strip in a thermostat. Understanding thermal expansion is essential for predicting how materials behave under temperature changes and avoiding structural failures in real-world applications.

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The change in phase from solid to liquid

The movement of particles in a vacuum

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