EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION OF LIQUIDS
• Liquids generally expand by larger amounts than solids.
• This difference in expansion rate is sometimes observed when the gas tank of a car is filled on a hot day.
• A few examples of liquids that expand and contract are:
(i) Alcohol in thermometers
(ii) Gasoline in cars
(iii) Oceans and lakes
(iv) Engine coolant
• In the last 100 years, the temperature of oceans and lakes on Earth has increased.
• Warmer oceans and lakes have a greater volume.
• When oceans have larger volumes, sea levels rise.
• If there is enough of an increase in volume coastal cities can flood.
• Gasoline expands during hot weather.
• A full tank on a warm day could overflow.
• The mercury in a thermometer expands and contracts in response to the surrounding temperature.
• Water expands on heating.
