Class 11 Physics simulations · Thermal Properties of Matter

Bimetallic strip

Bond two metals and heat them. The one that expands more ends up on the outside of the curve.

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What to notice

Heating curls the strip towards the metal with the smaller expansion coefficient; cooling reverses it.

Key relation

1/ρ ≈ 3(α₂ − α₁)ΔT / 2h

Try this

Make ΔT negative. Which way does the strip bend now?

What you can change

• Metal pair: choose Brass / steel, Copper / invar, Aluminium / steel
• Temperature change ΔT: -100 to 200 K
• Total thickness: 0.5 to 3 mm
• Length: 5 to 20 cm

More in Thermal Properties of Matter

• Mixing hot and cold water
• Thermal expansion
• Steady heat conduction
• Heating curve: ice to steam
• Newton’s law of cooling
• Heating with specific heat
• Net thermal radiation
• Anomalous expansion of water

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