Bimetallic Strip with Liquid Nitrogen

The bimetallic strip shown is made up of brass and stainless steel, with the brass having the higher thermal expansion coefficient. Brass is on the left in the images. Placed in liquid nitrogen (77K) and over a laboratory burner (T=?), the strip bends in opposite directions.

Note that the strip bends more when placed over the burner than when placed in the liquid nitrogen. This implies that the temperature of the flame is further above room temperature than the liquid nitrogen is below it, if the expansion coefficient is the same. Note the frost which forms on the bimetallic strip when it is first placed above the flame.

Index

Temperature concepts

Liquid nitrogen
 
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