List of top Physics Questions on Thermal Expansion

The pressure applied on a cube from all sides is \(P\). In order to keep its volume constant, the temperature of the cube is to be raised by (The bulk modulus and the coefficient of volume expansion of the material of the cube are \(\beta\) and \(\alpha\) respectively)
Two rods made of metals A and B, each of length \(20\,\text{cm}\), expand by \(0.075\,\text{cm}\) and \(0.045\,\text{cm}\) respectively, when heated from \(0^\circ\text{C}\) to \(100^\circ\text{C}\). A composite rod of the same length is made with a portion of metal A and the remaining portion with B. The composite rod expands by \(0.060\,\text{cm}\) for the same rise in temperature. Then the portion of the composite rod made of A has initial length
The apparent coefficient of expansion of a liquid, when heated in a copper vessel, is \( C \) and when heated in a silver vessel is \( S \). If \( A \) is the linear coefficient of expansion of copper, then the linear coefficient of expansion of silver is:
Consider a rectangular sheet of solid material of length $ \ell = 9 $ cm and width $ d = 4 $ cm. The coefficient of linear expansion is $ \alpha = 3.1 \times 10^{-5} $ K$^{-1}$ at room temperature and one atmospheric pressure. The mass of the sheet is $ m = 0.1 $ kg and the specific heat capacity $ C_v = 900 $ J kg$^{-1}$K$^{-1}$. If the amount of heat supplied to the material is $ 8.1 \times 10^2 $ J, then the change in area of the rectangular sheet is:
Length of a rod increases 0.2% on increasing the temperature by 100°C. The value of coefficient of linear expansion of material of rod is
On a temperature scale X, the boiling point of water is 65° X and the freezing point is 15° X. Assume that the X scale is linear. The equivalent temperature corresponding to 95° X on the Fahrenheit scale would be:
A hole is drilled in a metal sheet At $27^{\circ} C$, the diameter of hole is $5 cm$ When the sheet is heated to $177^{\circ} C$, the change in the diameter of hole is $d \times 10^{-3} cm$ The value of $d$ will be ___ if coefficient of linear expansion of the metal is $16 \times 10^{-5} { }^{\circ} C$

A thin rod having a length of \(1 m\) and area of cross-section \(3 \times 10^{-6} m ^2\) is suspended vertically from one end. The rod is cooled from \(210^{\circ} C\) to \(160^{\circ} C\) After cooling, a mass \(M\) is attached at the lower end of the rod such that the length of rod again becomes \(1m\). Young's modulus and coefficient of linear expansion of the rod are \(2 \times 10^{11} N m ^{-2}\) and \(2 \times 10^{-5} K ^{-1}\), respectively. The value of \(M\) is ____ \(kg\). (Take \(g =10 \ m s ^{-2}\))

A steel rod of length \(5\,\text{m}\) and radius \(2\,\text{cm}\) is heated by \(10^\circ\text{C}\). Find the % change in volume \(\left(\alpha = 10 \times 10^{-6}\,^\circ\text{C}^{-1}\right)\):
An iron sphere having diameter \(D\) and mass \(M\) is immersed in hot water so that the temperature of the sphere increases by \(\delta T\). If \(\alpha\) is the coefficient of linear expansion of the iron then the change in the surface area of the sphere is
A metal tape is calibrated at \(25^\circ C\). On a cold day when the temperature is \(-15^\circ C\), the percentage error in the measurement of length is
Coefficient of linear expansion of metal \(=1\times10^{-5}\;^\circ C^{-1}\)
At what temperature a gold ring of diameter 6.230 cm be heated so that it can be fitted on a wooden bangle of diameter 6.241 cm? Both the diameters have been measured at room temperature (27°C).
(Given: coefficient of linear thermal expansion of gold αL = 1.4 × 10–5 K–1)
Each side of a box made of metal sheet in cubic shape is 'a' at room temperature 'T', the coefficient of linear expansion of the metal sheet is ' $\alpha^{\prime}$. The metal sheet is heated uniformly, by a small temperature $\Delta T ,$ so that its new temperature is $T +\Delta T$. Calculate the increase in the volume of the metal box.
Each side of a box made of metal sheet in cubic shape is 'a' at room temperature 'T', the coefficient of linear expansion of the metal sheet is 'α'. The metal sheet is heated uniformly, by a small temperature ΔT, so that its new temperature is T + ΔT. Calculate the increase in the volume of the metal box.
The average thermal energy for a mono-atomic gasis : (kBis Boltzmann constant and T, absolute temperature)
The value of coefficient of volume expansion of glycerin is \(5 \times 10^{-4} K^{-1}\). The fractional change in the density of glycerin for a rise of \(40 ^{\circ} C\) in its temperature, is
The density of water at $20^{\circ}C$ is $998\, kg/m^3 $ and at $40^{\circ}C$ $992\,kg/m^3 $. The coefficient of volume expansion of water is
A compressive force, F is applied at the two ends of a long thin steel rod. It is heated, simultaneously, such that its temperature increases by ΔT. The net change in its length is zero. Let L be the length of the rod, A is its area of cross-section. Y is Young’s modulus, and α is its coefficient of linear expansion. Then, F is equal to
Two ideal gas thermometers A and B use oxygen and hydrogen respectively. The following observations are made :
TemperaturePressure thermometer APressure thermometer B
Triple-point of water1.250 × 10\(^5\) Pa0.200 × 10\(^5\) Pa
Normal melting point of sulphur1.797× 10\(^5\) Pa0.287 × 10\(^5\) Pa
  1. What is the absolute temperature of normal melting point of sulphur as read by thermometers A and B?
  2. What do you think is the reason behind the slight difference in answers of thermometers A and B ? (The thermometers are not faulty). What further procedure is needed in the experiment to reduce the discrepancy between the two readings?

A steel tape 1m long is correctly calibrated for a temperature of 27.0 °C. The length of a steel rod measured by this tape is found to be 63.0 cm on a hot day when the temperature is 45.0 °C. What is the actual length of the steel rod on that day ? What is the length of the same steel rod on a day when the temperature is 27.0 °C ? Coefficient of linear expansion of steel = 1.20 × 10\(^{-5}\) K\(^{-1}\).

A large steel wheel is to be fitted on to a shaft of the same material. At 27 °C, the outer diameter of the shaft is 8.70 cm and the diameter of the central hole in the wheel is 8.69 cm. The shaft is cooled using ‘dry ice’. At what temperature of the shaft does the wheel slip on the shaft? Assume coefficient of linear expansion of the steel to be constant over the required temperature range : α\(_{steel}\)= 1.20 × 10\(^{-5}\) K\(^{-1}\).
A hole is drilled in a copper sheet. The diameter of the hole is 4.24 cm at 27.0 °C. What is the change in the diameter of the hole when the sheet is heated to 227 °C? Coefficient of linear expansion of copper = 1.70 × \(10^{-5} K^{-1}.\)