Section 3
Thermal Expansion
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Version 3
By Boundless
By Boundless
Boundless Physics
Physics
by Boundless
4 concepts
![Thumbnail](../../../../../../figures.boundless-cdn.com/17110/square/rail-buckle.jpeg)
Linear Expansion
Thermal expansion is the tendency of matter to change in volume in response to a change in temperature.
![Thumbnail](../../../../../../figures.boundless-cdn.com/17113/square/4.jpeg)
Area Expansion
Objects expand in all dimensions. That is, their areas and volumes, as well as their lengths, increase with temperature.
![Thumbnail](../../../../../../figures.boundless-cdn.com/17114/square/figure-14-02-02.jpeg)
Volume Expansion
Substances expand or contract when their temperature changes, with expansion or contraction occurring in all directions.
![Thumbnail](../../../../../../figures.boundless-cdn.com/17115/square/figure-14-02-03.jpeg)
Special Properties of Water
Objects will expand with increasing temperature, but water is the most important exception to the general rule.