In the physics laboratory, apparatus is normally used to illustrate a single theory or physical law. The apparatus used to study the principle of linear thermal expansion of solids, such as that manufactured by PASCO scientific,1 provides a bonus. In addition to using this apparatus for its original purpose, it can also be used to illustrate Newton's law of cooling in the course of a single laboratory period.

Topics
Thermal effects, Thermodynamic states and processes, Laboratories
1.
PASCO scientific, 10101 Foothills Blvd., Roseville, CA 95747; http://www.pasco.com.
2.
Raymond A. Serway and John W. Jewitt, Physics for Scientists and Engineers, 6th ed. (Thompson Brooks/Cole, 2004), pp. 586–590.
3.
Clifford Swartz and Thomas Miner, Teaching Introductory Physics: A Sourcebook (American Institute of Physics, 1997), p. 257.
4.
Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 41st ed. (Chemical Rubber Publishing Co., 1960), p. 2239. The value given is the average value of α over the temperature range 0°C – 100°C.
5.
Volker
Thomsen
, “
Response time of a thermometer
,”
Phys. Teach.
36
,
540
–
541
(Dec.
1998
).
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© 2006 American Association of Physics Teachers.
2006
American Association of Physics Teachers
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