When the temperature of an object is raised, its increase in surface area is proportional to which of the following?

The increase in surface area of an object as its temperature is raised can be understood in the context of thermal expansion. As a material heats up, it typically expands, resulting in a change in dimensions. The relationship between the increase in surface area and temperature rise is driven by the fact that most solids expand uniformly in all directions when heated. This means that as temperature increases, the size of each dimension increases, thereby affecting the overall surface area.

The correct answer highlights that the increase in surface area is directly proportional to both the initial area of the object and the temperature rise. The initial area reflects the starting size of the surface before any thermal expansion occurs. A larger initial area will yield a proportionally larger increase in surface area, given the same change in temperature. This relationship allows for predictions about how much an object's surface area will increase when heated.

Understanding this concept is essential for various applications in refrigeration and material science, where temperature changes can have significant impacts on the performance and safety of materials and systems.