Motion Detectors Used in Measuring Heat Expansion

Abstract

With any piece of technology, there exists a learning curve where students need time to adjust to the ways in which the device works. If you struggle with having enough time for lab, it may be advantageous to have students learn how to operate one set of equipment and use that equipment as much as possible. In this article a unique application for the use of a motion detector is presented for measuring the thermal coefficient of expansion for a material. This lab involves using probeware to measure the temperature and change in length of a material. By the end of the lab, students make conclusions about the coefficient of linear expansion and heat capacity.

Coeficiente de dilatación: diseño y construcción de un dilatómetro

“…También pueden verse experimentos hechos con aparatos comerciales especialmente diseñados para tal fin, como es el caso de los equipos PASCO [11] o bien el uso ingenioso de un sensor de movimiento utilizado para la observación del fenómeno de dilatación térmica lineal [12]. Un dispositivo remarcable, es el diseñado para enseñar dilatación térmica lineal a gente ciega [13].…”