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Handbook of Physical Constants

Handbook of Physical Constants

Editor(s)
Francis Birch Chairman
Francis Birch Chairman
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J. F. Schairer
J. F. Schairer
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H. Cecil Spicer
H. Cecil Spicer
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Geological Society of America
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1130/SPE36
Copyright:
© 1942 Geological Society of America
Geological Society of America
ISBN print:
9780813720364
Publication date:
January 01, 1942
Book Chapter

Density at High Pressure; Compressibility

Author(s)
Francis Birch
Francis Birch
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GSW
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Doi:
https://doi.org/10.1130/SPE36-p39
  • Published:
    January 01, 1942

 Contents  
  Page 
Table 4 1. Compressibility of elements crystallizing in the cubic system 43 
 2. Compressibility of elements crystallizing in the hexagonal and tetragonal systems 46 
 3. Compression of a few miscellaneous elements 47 
 4. Compression and thermal expansion of the alkali metals 48 
 4.1. Effect of pressure on thermal expansion 48 
 5. Compression of elements to 50,000 kg/cm2 49 
 6. Compression of compounds to 50,000 kg/cm2 50 
 7. Compressibility of cubic compounds 52 
 8. Compressibility of hexagonal, trigonal, and tetragonal compounds 54 
 9. Compressibility of orthorhombic compounds 56 
 10. Compressibility of monoclinic and triclinic compounds 58 
 11. Change of compressibility on melting 59 
 12. Compressibility of several artificial and natural glasses 60 
 13. Compressibility of rocks at low pressures 61 
 14. Compressibility of rocks at high pressures 62 
 Contents  
  Page 
Table 4 1. Compressibility of elements crystallizing in the cubic system 43 
 2. Compressibility of elements crystallizing in the hexagonal and tetragonal systems 46 
 3. Compression of a few miscellaneous elements 47 
 4. Compression and thermal expansion of the alkali metals 48 
 4.1. Effect of pressure on thermal expansion 48 
 5. Compression of elements to 50,000 kg/cm2 49 
 6. Compression of compounds to 50,000 kg/cm2 50 
 7. Compressibility of cubic compounds 52 
 8. Compressibility of hexagonal, trigonal, and tetragonal compounds 54 
 9. Compressibility of orthorhombic compounds 56 
 10. Compressibility of monoclinic and triclinic compounds 58 
 11. Change of compressibility on melting 59 
 12. Compressibility of several artificial and natural glasses 60 
 13. Compressibility of rocks at low pressures 61 
 14. Compressibility of rocks at high pressures 62 
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Density and specific volume are dependent not only upon the temperature but also upon the stress. A stress system consisting of uniform pressure in all directions is known as “ hydrostatic” pressure; the change of specific volume or of density for not too great changes of hydrostatic pressure may be described in terms of a single coefficient, the compressibility β, defined by

β=1V0(dVdP)T=1ρ0(dρdP)T
⁠, where V0 is the specific volume, ρ0 the density at 1 atmosphere, and P the pressure. Since dV/dP is intrinsically negative, β is a positive number, with the dimensions of the reciprocal of a pressure or stress. In general, β depends upon the pressure and the temperature. Its reciprocal K is known as the bulk modulus.

The compressibility . . .

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