Physics
Area expansion
Roughly twice the linear fraction, plus a small squared term.
The Formula
dA / A = (1 + alpha x dT)^2 - 1
Roughly twice the linear fraction, plus a small squared term.
| Symbol | Meaning | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Original area | square metres | The surface area before heating. |
| dA | Change in area | square metres | How much the area grows. |
What Each Symbol Means
Asquare metres
Original area
The surface area before heating.
dAsquare metres
Change in area
How much the area grows.
See It Worked With Real Numbers
A formula on its own does not tell you which number goes where. The how to calculate thermal expansion page applies this equation to a concrete case, shows every intermediate step, and names the mistakes that produce a wrong answer even when the algebra is right.
Where This Formula Appears
This equation is the working core of How To Calculate Thermal Expansion, filed under Science. Every number the guide produces comes from substituting into this one line.