A copper vat is 15 m long at room temperature (20°C). How much longer is it when it contains boiling water at 1 atm pressure?

Answer 1

Change in Length (ΔL) = L₀αΔt

where L₀ = Initial Length

α = Linear Expansion Coefficient of Copper

Δt = Change in temperature = Final temperature - Initial Temperature

For copper: α = 16.7 * 10^-6 m/m⁰C

Final Temperature = 100^oC ( Temperature of boiling water)

ΔL = 15 * 16.7 * 10^-6 * (100-20) = 0.02m

The copper vat will be longer by 0.02m.