> > This is getting as tedious as the 'holes bored in metal get smaller 
> > when you heat it up' thread on another list.
> 
> I'll bite.
> Beats working :-)
> 
> One could do the math (arithmetic) but there seems a far easier way.
> 
> A heated piece of metal expands (for most metals).
> 
> EITHER:
> 
> The metal all expands linearly, in amount proportionally 
> equally to its original size and the object therefore retains 
> its original relative shape and proportions. In which case 
> holes become larger to retain their relationship to the 
> expanded whole. ie the object is simply a scaled up version 
> of the original.
> 
> OR:
> 
> The object changes its relative shape and proportions in some way so 
> that eg holes can become smaller relative to the size of the expanded 
> whole.
> ie heating the object uniformly throughout causes it to assume a new 
> shape which is not a directly scaled version of its original form.
> 
> AND, AS:
> 
> The former seems to obey the "laws" of Physics and the latter dinna 
> then we conclude that holes in a heated piece of metal will expand as 
> the metal expands to maintain the scale of the heated object.
> 
> QED


Gah!  There's always one in a crowd  :)

Yep, everything expands proportionally, including the holes (whatever shape
they may be).  I don't know of any homogenous metal that shrinks when
heated...

Some people remain unconvinced of this, no amount of logic or reason will
sway them.  It gets more frustrating when said skeptic states "Well yes, I
have heated up metal to be able to get a bearing in or out, but I still
don't believe the hole gets bigger".  Gadzooks!

Aliens.  Must be aliens.  Gotta get my tinfoil hat to stop the rays.

Tony

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