• id: JME-10-N05
• title: Real and Apparent Expansion of Liquids
• tags: liquid-expansion, apparent, real

When a liquid is heated in a container, both expand. The apparent expansion observed is less than the real expansion because the container also expands. $\gamma_{\text{real}} = \gamma_{\text{apparent}} + \gamma_{\text{container}}$. Since $\gamma_{\text{container}} = 3\alpha_{\text{container}}$: $\gamma_{\text{real}} = \gamma_{\text{apparent}} + 3\alpha_{\text{container}}$. When measuring liquid expansion, the container expansion must be accounted for. If the container has a very low $\alpha$ (like fused quartz), apparent expansion is close to real expansion.