Thermal Expansion: Finding common temperature (Ring/Sphere)

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a thermal expansion problem involving a lead sphere and a steel ring. The objective is to determine the common temperature at which the inner diameter of the ring is 0.05% larger than the diameter of the sphere, with specific dimensions and coefficients of thermal expansion provided for both objects.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore various methods of calculating temperature changes, including linear and volumetric expansion. Some express confusion over the application of area versus linear expansion in their calculations.

Discussion Status

Several participants have shared their attempts and results, noting discrepancies between their calculations and the expected answer. There is an ongoing exploration of different approaches, with some participants suggesting that the problem may involve inaccuracies in the given data or assumptions about precision.

Contextual Notes

Participants have pointed out potential issues with the accuracy of the provided measurements, suggesting that the problem's requirements may not align with standard practices for specifying precision in such calculations.

paulie
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Homework Statement


Find the common temperature at which the inner diameter of the ring is 0.05% larger than the diameter of the sphere.

Given:
Lead sphere
d = 5cm
To = 70°C
∝ = 29x10-6/C°
Steel ring
d = 4.9975cm (the sphere is 0.05% larger than the inner diameter of the ring, hence this value)
To = 70°C
∝ = 12x10-6/C°

Homework Equations


Af = Ao(1+2∝Δt)
Δt = Tf - To

The Attempt at a Solution


Equate both final area of sphere (S) and ring (R)
AFR = AFS (1.0005)
Substitute
Af = Ao(1+2∝Δt)
AoR(1+2∝RΔt) = (1.0005)AoS(1+2∝SΔt)
Arrange equation to find Δt
Δt = (1.0005)(AoS) - (AoR) / 2(AoR)(∝R) - (1.0005)(2)(AoS)(∝L)
Enter the values
Δt = (1.0005)(π(5cm/2)2) - (π(4.9975cm/2)2) / 2(π(4.9975cm/2)2)(12x10-6/C°) - 2(1.0005)(π(5cm/2)2)(29x10-6/C°)
The answer is
Δt = -44.0416 C°
Which is incorrect because the Final temperature is supposed to be 11.2766°C, using my answer and finding for the final temperature with 70°C as initial.
Tf = 25.9584°C
EDIT:
I've found out that if I multiplied 1.0005 on the diameter of lead sphere (5cm) immediately before others, I'll get an answer of Δt = -58.6820 C° where the final temperature will be 11.3180°C which is pretty close but not the exact answer :(
 
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In the case of ring, you have to consider linear expansion, not the areal expansion. Similarly in the care of sphere you have to consider volume expansion.
 
Linear expansion for both.
 
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@rl.bhat I tried using volume and linear but I arrived with a bigger value.

@mjc123 Tried to make both linear and I arrived with Δt = - 58.7521 C° which is pretty good, finding the final temperature I got 11.2473 °C although the given correct answer is 11.2766 °C. I'll try to recompute later.

The problem is actually one out of four question, I used area of expansion on the three others and found the exact correct answer. This is the last question and I'm having trouble in getting the exact value (11.2766 °C).
 
paulie said:
@rl.bhat I tried using volume and linear but I arrived with a bigger value.

@mjc123 Tried to make both linear and I arrived with Δt = - 58.7521 C° which is pretty good, finding the final temperature I got 11.2473 °C although the given correct answer is 11.2766 °C. I'll try to recompute later.

The problem is actually one out of four question, I used area of expansion on the three others and found the exact correct answer. This is the last question and I'm having trouble in getting the exact value (11.2766 °C).
The question statement violates the usual rules of specifying accuracy. E.g. it should give the lead diameter as 5.0000cm.
Having extended all the data to that accuracy, you might think that the answer can be given to that accuracy, but not so. In this question, small differences are calculated between numbers of similar magnitude. E.g. 5.0025-4.9975=0.0050, so 5 digits of accuracy falls to only two.
Thus, it does not really make any sense to quote the answer more precisely than 11°C.

But for what it is worth, I get 11.256. If you care about that difference, please show exactly how you calculated it.
 
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That was what I was thinking but it bothered me that it was the only answer that didn't exactly gave the exact value from the answer sheet. Thanks for the help guys.
 

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