Skip to content
ENExplore Calculators

Thermal Expansion (Volume) Calculator

Work out thermal expansion (volume) instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Thermal Expansion (Volume) Calculator

Volumetric expansion is dV = V.beta.dT, and for an isotropic solid beta is three times the linear coefficient because all three dimensions grow. Petrol at beta = 2.1e-4 per kelvin expands 0.26 L per 50 L over a 25 K rise, which is why fuel tanks need vapour space and why fuel is sold temperature-corrected in bulk trade.

Formulas

Volumetric expansion

dV = V x beta x dT

Isotropic solids

beta = 3 alpha

Worked example

With the default values below, Thermal Expansion (Volume) Calculator returns Change In Volume of 0.2625. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Original volumeminimum 0 L
50 L
Volumetric expansion coefficientminimum 0 1/K
0.00021 1/K
Temperature change
25 K

Results

Change In Volume
0.2625 L
New Volume
50.2625 L
Percentage Change
0.5250%
Equivalent Linear Coefficient
7.0000 × 10⁻⁵ 1/K

Step by step

  1. 1Values used
  2. 2Volumetric expansion
  3. 3Isotropic solids
  4. 4Change In Volume= 0.2625 L
  5. 5New Volume= 50.2625 L
  6. 6Percentage Change= 0.5250
  7. 7Equivalent Linear Coefficient= 0.0001 1/K

Assumptions and limits

  • The result is derived only from the 3 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
  • In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
  • Figures are rounded for display to 4 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is beta three times alpha?

Because volume is the product of three lengths, and to first order the fractional changes add: (1+e)^3 is about 1+3e for small e.

Do liquids expand more than solids?

Considerably - typically ten to twenty times more, which is why thermometers use liquid in a glass tube.

Related Calculators

Thermal Expansion (Volume) Calculator | Calcrivo