Thermal Expansion:Using Calculator-Based Laboratory Technology To Observe the Anomalous Behavior of Water

摘要

According to Archimedes' principle less dense layers of liquids rise to the surface while heavier ones sink to the bottom.Because liquids normally expand as the temperature rises,at deeper denser levels the temperature is usually lower.One important exception is water.In the interval between 0 deg C and 4 deg C water behaves in an anomalous way.Beginning at 0 deg C,the density of water increases as the temperature rises(Figure 1).At 4 deg C it reaches its maximum density.Above 4 deg C the density of water decreases as the temperature increases,as does that of all other liquids.