Another problem on Thermal Expansion

In summary, the conversation discusses a beaker made of ordinary glass with a lead sphere attached to its bottom. The beaker is filled with 118 cm^3 of mercury at a temperature of -10 degrees Celsius, completely covering the sphere. It is then asked how much mercury will overflow from the beaker if the temperature is raised to 30 degrees Celsius. The conversation also mentions the average linear and volume expansion coefficients of glass, lead, and mercury, and how they can be used to calculate the amount of overflow.
  • #1
andrew410
59
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A beaker made of ordinary glass contains a lead sphere of diameter 4 cm firmly attached to its bottom. At a uniform temperature of -10 degrees Celsius, the beaker is filled to the brim with 118 cm^3 of mercury, which completely covers the sphere. How much mercury overflows from the beaker if the temperature is raised to 30 degrees Celsius?

Things I know so far:
average linear expansion coefficient of glass: 9*10^-6
average linear expansion coefficient of lead: 29*10^-6
average volume expansion coefficient of mercury: 1.82*10^-4
[tex]\Delta V=\beta V_{i}\Delta T[/tex]

Wouldn't nothing spill because when the beaker's temperature rises then the beaker expands more.
If I'm wrong then could someone lead me into the right direction?
Thanks in advance! :)
 
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  • #2
andrew410 said:
Wouldn't nothing spill because when the beaker's temperature rises then the beaker expands more.
Don't guess, figure it out! How much does the beaker expand? The lead sphere? So... how much volume is left available in the beaker? How much does the mercury expand? So... how much must overflow?

Hint: Given the linear expansion coefficient, how can you find the volume expansion coefficient?
 
  • #3
How would you get the height of the beaker? I assume that the diameter of the beaker is approximately 4 cm because the sphere is firmly attached to the bottom of the beaker. Or is this the wrong way to get the initial volume of the beaker?
 
  • #4
You have the initial volume of mercury and the dimensions of the sphere. That's all you need to find the volume of the beaker.
 
  • #5
So the volume of the beaker is volume of mercury + volume of the sphere?
 
  • #6
andrew410 said:
So the volume of the beaker is volume of mercury + volume of the sphere?
Right. At least initially.
 

1. How does temperature affect thermal expansion?

As temperature increases, the molecules in a material move faster and take up more space, causing the material to expand. Similarly, as temperature decreases, the molecules slow down and the material contracts.

2. What factors affect the thermal expansion of a material?

The type of material, its initial temperature, and the change in temperature are all factors that influence the degree of thermal expansion. Additionally, the atomic structure and bonding within the material can also play a role in its thermal expansion behavior.

3. Why is thermal expansion important to consider in engineering and construction?

Thermal expansion can cause changes in the size and shape of materials, which can lead to structural damage or failure if not accounted for. It is important to consider in these fields to ensure the safety and stability of structures and equipment.

4. How is thermal expansion measured?

Thermal expansion is typically measured using a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), which represents the change in length or volume of a material per degree of temperature change. This value can be experimentally determined or calculated using equations based on the material's properties.

5. Can thermal expansion be beneficial?

Yes, thermal expansion can be beneficial in certain applications. For example, bimetallic strips take advantage of the different thermal expansion rates of two metals to create a mechanical movement, which is used in thermostats and other devices. Additionally, thermal expansion can be used to create tight seals in machines and to secure parts together without the use of adhesives or fasteners.

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