Thermal Expansion: Hole Diameter in Heated Steel

[sovankc]

Homework Statement

this is a 2 marks question
a hole is drilled through a piece of steel what happens to the diameter of the hole as the steel is heated

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

i guess the diameter of the hole decreases as both the outer as well as inner circumference are free the outer circumference expands outside and inner circumference towards in resulting the hole to be small.....

 

[pam]

Instead of the hole, pencil a circle on the steel.
What happens to the penciled circle as the steel is heated?

 

[sovankc]

the circle drawn with a pencil will increase coz there is no free space for circle, but for a hole there will be free space

 

[merryjman]

I think pam wants you to actually do the experiment. This is a pretty common question so do some internet research and you can find the answer.