Thermal expansion is the tendency of matter to change in volume in response to a change in temperature.
When a substance is heated, its particles begin moving more and thus usually maintain a greater average separation. Materials which contract with increasing temperature are rare; this effect is limited in size, and only occurs within limited temperature ranges (see examples below). The degree of expansion divided by the change in temperature is called the material's coefficient of thermal expansion and generally varies with temperature.
Read more about Thermal Expansion: Coefficient of Thermal Expansion, Expansion in Solids, Expansion in Gases, Expansion in Liquids, Apparent and Absolute Expansion, Examples and Applications, Thermal Expansion Coefficients For Various Materials
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