If there is an increase in the volume of a solid body due to heating, then the expansion is called cubical or volumetric expansion. As in the cases of linear and areal expansion, cubical expansion is also expressed in terms of coefficient of cubical expansion. The ratio of increase in volume of the body ‘ per degree rise in temperature to its unit volume is called as coefficient of cubical expansion. This is also measured in K-1.
The equation relating to the change in volume and the change in temperature is given below:
\(\frac{ΔV}{V_0} = a_V ΔT\)
ΔV – Change in volume (Final volume – Original volume)
V0 – Original volume
ΔT – Change in temperature (Final temperature – Initial temperature)
αV – Coefficient of cubical expansion.
