Beta

See length change with temperature

Inspect free expansion from coefficient, initial length and temperature change.

Choose another visualization (19 topics)

Start with a familiar scene

Compare how much a long bar expands when warmed.

Choose an example to update the diagram and calculation below.

More numeric references and examples

Get a sense of the value, then inspect the diagram or motion.

Reference / example	Value	What it means
Steel representative example	α 12 ×10⁻⁶/K	1 m and 50 K: 0.6 mm expansion
Aluminium representative example	α 25 ×10⁻⁶/K	1 m and 50 K: 1.25 mm expansion
Copper representative example	α 17 ×10⁻⁶/K	1 m and 50 K: 0.85 mm expansion

Formula examples; see the scope alongside each view.

Applies to condition A. Then press Play or Reveal.

Ready

2D · bar side view

Playback speed

0.00 sReveal animation

Only length change is magnified; actual change and magnification are labeled.

Enter your own values (open here)

Input unit

Uniform temperature, constant coefficient, no constraint. Input temperature difference: −100 to 300 K.

Equation and interpretation

ΔL=α L ΔT. Material examples are textbook representative coefficients and vary with alloy and temperature. Thermal stress is excluded.

From temperature change to expansion

Supply initial length, expansion coefficient and temperature change. A temperature difference is distinct from an absolute temperature conversion.

Each tool opens with its own conditions. Values are not transferred automatically.