When an object is heated or cooled, its length changes by an amount proportional to the original length and the change in temperature. Linear thermal expansion of an object can be expressed as
`dl = L0 α (t1 - t0)`
where:
`dl` = change in length (m, inches)
`L0` = initial length (m, inches)
`alpha` = linear expansion coefficient (m/moC, in/inoF)