IV. Heat dilatation of metals from low temperatures

It is understood that the coefficients of heat dilatation increase with rise of temperature; but Professor P. G. Tait, in his recent work on ‘Heat,’ p. 87, remarks that “we are not aware of any experiments made with a view of deciding whether, as is probable, these coefficients become gradually less as the temperature is lowered below zero” (0°C.). The following experiments were made to investigate the subject in relation to metals of the iron and steel series.