Thermal Expansion
The term thermal expansion refers to the increase in size of an object as that object is heated. With relatively few exceptions, all objects expand when they are heated and contract when they are cooled. Perhaps the most important exception to this rule is water. Water contracts as it cools from its boiling point to about 39.2°F (4°C). At that point, it begins to expand as it cools further to its freezing point. This unusual effect explains the fact that ice is less dense than water.
General trends
Different materials expand or contract at different rates. In general, gases expand more than liquids, and liquids expand more than solids.
When an object is heated or cooled, it expands or contracts in all dimensions. However, for practical reasons, scientists...
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