# Thermal expansion of lead sphere

1. Jan 2, 2005

### craigfc

Hi guys and girls,

I've been going thorugh some problems in cutnell & johnson on heat and temperature and I have become stuck on this question. Can anybody help with this? Its from Cutnell and Johnson 5th p375 Q18*.

A lead sphere has a diatmeter that is 0.05% larger than the inner diameter of a steel ring when each has a temperature of 70.0 oC. Thus, the ring will not slip over the sphere. At what common temperature will the ring just slip over the sphere?

Cheers, any help is much appreciated.

Craig

2. Jan 2, 2005

### Staff: Mentor

Consider the coefficient of linear expansion of each material: $\Delta L = \alpha \Delta T L_0$. What $\Delta T$ is required to make the diameters equal?

3. Jan 2, 2005

### craigfc

OK, I have tried, but my maths is not very good. Can you give me a hint please? So far I have got the same point but I am not sure how to work the equations.

Thanks

4. Jan 2, 2005

### Staff: Mentor

Here's a hint: Call the diameter (at 70 degrees) of the steel ring D; then the diameter of the lead sphere is 1.0005 D. Now find the diameter of the steel ring as a function of $\Delta T$:
$$D_s = D + \Delta L = D + \alpha_s \Delta T D$$

Now write a similiar equation for the diameter of the lead sphere. Set them equal and solve for $\Delta T$.

Last edited: Jan 2, 2005
5. Jan 2, 2005

### craigfc

ok, so

$$L_L=$$ diameter of lead at new temp
$$L_S=$$ diatmeter of steel at new temp

at $$70^oC$$ $$L_o_L=1.0005L_o_S$$

so at the new temp,

$$L_S=L_o_S+ \Delta L_S =L_o_S+ \alpha_SL_o_S \Delta T$$
and
$$L_L=L_o_L+ \Delta L_L =L_o_L+ \alpha_LL_o_L \Delta T$$

and we want $$L_S=L_L$$

so
$$L_S=L_L$$
$$L_o_S+ \alpha_SL_o_S \Delta T=L_o_L+ \alpha_LL_o_L \Delta T$$
since
$$L_o_L=1.0005L_o_S$$
then
$$L_o_S+ \alpha_SL_o_S \Delta T=1.0005L_o_S+ \alpha_L1.0005L_o_S \Delta T$$

ok, bit stuck now, am I on the write track? if so what do i do next?

Last edited: Jan 2, 2005
6. Jan 2, 2005

### Necrosis

Now you want to cancel out whatever you can, like your L_os, substitute in the co-efficients of Linear thermal expansion, and solve for Delta T, after that you should be able to find what temp they mesh well together...;)

7. Jan 3, 2005

### craigfc

ok thanks guys i have sovled that one,
BUT i have another question.

how do you work out the relative proportions of an alloy if you are given the co-efficient of that alloy?

cheers
C.

8. Jan 3, 2005

### Gamma

Hello,

I agree with the finding of the new diameter of the steal ring with the following formula for lenear expansion.

$$L_S=L_o_S+ \Delta L_S =L_o_S+ \alpha_SL_o_S \Delta T$$

However, inorder to find the new diameter of the lead sphere I think one need to consider the volume expansion of the sphere.

$$V_L=V_o_L+ \Delta V_L =V_o_L+ \beta_LV_o_L \Delta T$$

Then find $$L_L$$ using

$$V_L=\frac{4}{3} \pi (\frac{L_L}{2})^3$$

Gamma.

9. Jan 3, 2005

### Staff: Mentor

No. All linear dimensions (such as diameter) will expand per the linear expansion coefficient.

10. Jan 3, 2005

### Gamma

Dr. Al,

Let's find the change in radius in both ways.

Say the initial and final radii of a sphere is ,$$r_1$$ and ,$$r_2$$ respec.

Linear expansion gives,

$$r_2=r_1(1+ \alpha\Delta T)$$ ---(1)

Considering the volume expansion (assuming a uniform sphere),

$$r_2^3=r_1^3(1+ 3\alpha\Delta T)$$

$$r_2=r_1(1+ 3\alpha\Delta T)^\frac{1}{3}$$ ----(2)

What am I missing?

Regards,

Gamma.

11. Jan 3, 2005

### Staff: Mentor

Right.
This is an approximation. Nothing wrong with it; it's just not needed since all we care about in this problem is the linear dimension.
Do a Taylor series expansion of this. You'll find that:
$$r_2=r_1(1+ 3\alpha\Delta T)^\frac{1}{3} \approx r_1(1 + \alpha\Delta T)$$

12. Jan 3, 2005

### Gamma

Sorry, I don't get it.

Why do approximate while there is an exact way? Also, how can we neglect the higher order terms for not small enough $$\Delta T$$

Gamma

13. Jan 3, 2005

### Staff: Mentor

I hope you realize that:
$$r_2^3=r_1^3(1+ 3\alpha\Delta T)$$
Is itself an approximation that ignores higher order terms!

Also, recognize the circularity of your approach: You start with linear expansion, use that to find volume expansion, then take the cube root to get back to linear expansion: right where you started! All you need is linear expansion.

14. Jan 4, 2005

### Gamma

Thanks for the clarification...