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Name: Chase M.
Status: student
Age: 13
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 1/9/2004
Question:
Who discovered thermal expansion of materials?

Replies:
Thermal expansion of materials is a very old observation. The thermal expansion of gases, for example, has mixed attribution. See:

http://dbhs.wvusd.k12.ca.us/GasLaw/Gas-Charles.html

In a more primitive sense that materials usually expand when heated (water below about 4 C. being an exception) is so very old and I doubt that one can find a specific individual who first made the observation. He or she probably lived in a cave!!!

Vince Calder


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