When a circular hole is drilled into an aluminum sheet, does the diameter of the hole become larger or smaller when the sheet is heated?
become larger
When a circular hole is drilled into an aluminum sheet and the sheet is heated, the diameter of the hole typically increases. This is because aluminum expands when heated, causing its particles to move farther apart, resulting in an overall increase in size.
To understand why this happens, we can look at the concept of thermal expansion. When a material is heated, its atoms or molecules gain kinetic energy and vibrate more vigorously. This increased molecular motion leads to an expansion of the material in all directions.
Aluminum has a relatively high coefficient of thermal expansion, which means it expands significantly when heated. As the aluminum sheet is heated, the expanded particles push against the material around the hole, causing it to expand as well. Consequently, the hole's diameter increases.
It's worth noting that the exact amount by which the hole's diameter increases depends on various factors, such as the temperature change, the specific alloy of aluminum, and the size and geometry of the hole. Additionally, the expansion may not be uniform, leading to some distortion in the shape of the hole.