(Cubic) Thermal Expansion:
Objects expand in all directions when placed under a higher temperature. Not all materials expand at the same rate/the same amount, but why do the earth/strata do not expand? After all, it is very hot inside the earth. You would then expect that the earth layers expand as a result (in all directions and as a result the earth becomes larger in volume)?
Additional question: What about the sun? Why does it not always expand since the matter is subject to a much higher temperature below?
Answer
Dear Dennis,
Without realizing it, you’ve already answered the question: objects expand when heated. Eg an iron rod that you put in a burning fire expands. But it only expands until it reaches the temperature of the environment – the glowing coals – and then maintains its height.
The matter of the earth or the sun simply has a certain temperature, they no longer heat up and therefore do not expand further.
Answered by
Prof. dr. French Cerulus
physics, especially classical theoretical mechanics, electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, history of physics .
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