THERMAL EXPANSION

Total number of questions in this chapter are :

(i) Level # 1 ....................... 20

(ii) Level # 2 ....................... 13

(iii) Level # 3 ....................... 09

(iii) Level # 4 ....................... 04

Total no. of questions .................... 46

 LEVEL # 1
Thermal expansion Thermal stress
Q.1 An iron ball is heated. The percentage increase Q. 6 A metal wire of length  and area of cross-section
will be the largest in – A is fixed between rigid supports at negligible
(A) diameter (B) surface area tension. If this is cooled, the tension in the wire
(C) volume (D) density will be –
(A) Proportional to 
Q.2 Two holes of unequal diameters d 1 and d2 (B) Inversely proportional to 
(d1 >d2 ) are cut in a metal sheet. If the sheet is (C) Independent of 
heated– (D) Independent of A
(A) Both d1 and d2 will decrease
Q.7 What will be the stress at –20ºC, if a steel rod
(B) Both d1 and d2 will increase
with a cross-sectional area of 150 mm 2 is
(C) d1 will increase, d2 will decrease stretched between two fixed point ? The tensile
(D) d1 will decrease, d2 will increase load at 20ºC is 5000 N :
(Assume  = 11.7 ×10–6/ºC and Y = 200×1011N/m2)
Differential expansion of two solid (A) 12.7 × 106N/m2 (B) 1.27 × 106N/m2
(C) 127 × 106N/m2 (D) 0.127 × 106N/m2
Q.3 Two rods of lengths 1 and 2 are made of
materials whose coefficient of linear
Bimettalic strip
expansionsare 1 and  2 . If the difference
between two lengths is independent of Q. 8 If a bimetallic strip is heated, it will
temperature–
(A) bend towards the metal with lower thermal
1 1 1 2 expansion coefficient
(A)    (B)   
2 2 2 1
(B) bend towards the metal with higher thermal
12  22 expansion coefficient
(C)  22 1   12 2 (D) 
1 2 (C) not bend at all
(D) twist itself into a helix
Q.4 The coefficient of linear expansion of steel and
brass are 11 × 10 –6 /ºC and 19 × 10 –6 /ºC Pendulum clock
respectively. If their difference in lengths at all
temperatures has to be kept constant at 30 cm, Q.9 The temperatuire of a pendulum, the time period
their lengths at 0ºC should be – of which is t, is raised by T. The change in its
time period is :
(A) 71.25cm and 41.25cm
1
(B) 82 cm and 52 cm (A) t T (B) 2t T
2
(C) 92 cm and 62 cm
(D) 62.25 cm and 32.25 cm 1
(C)  T (D) 2T
2
Q.5 A metallic bar is heated from 0ºC to 100ºC. The
coefficient of linear expansion is 10–5 K–1. What Q.10 A pendulum clock is 5 sec fast at temperature of
will be the percentage increase in length– 15ºC and 10 sec slow at a temperature of 30ºC. At
what temperature does it give the correct time –
(A) 0.01% (B) 0.1%
(A) 18ºC (B) 20ºC
(C) 1% (D) 10% (C) 22ºC (D) 25ºC
Q.11 A pendulum clock has an iron pendulum 1m long Q.17 Which of the following curve represent variation
(iron = 10–5/ºC). If the temperature rises by 10ºC, of density of water with temperature best –
the clock–
(A) Will lose 8 seconds per day
(B) Will lose 4.32 seconds per day
(C) Will gain 8 seconds per day
(D) Will gain 4.32 seconds per day (A) (B)

Q.12 A second’s pendulum clock having steel wire is

calibrated at 20ºC. When temperature is increased
to 30ºC, then how much time does the clock lose
or gain in one week ?
[steel = 1.2 × 10 –5(ºC)–1 ] :
(A) 0.3628 s (B) 3.626 s
(C) (D)
(C) 362.8 s (D) 36.28 s

Superficial and volume expansion of

solid
Q.18 Density of substance at 0ºC is 10 gm/cc and at
Q.13 If the length of a cylinder on heating increases 100ºC, its density is 9.7 gm/cc. The coefficient of
by 2%, the area of its base will increase by –
linear expansion of the substance will be –
(A) 0.5% (B) 2%
(A) 102 (B) 10–2
(C) 1% (D) 4% (C)10–3 (D) 10–4
Q.14 A solid ball of metal has a spherical cavity inside
Q. 19 A rectangular block is heated from 0°C to 100°C.
it. If the ball is heated, the volume of the cavity
will– The percentage increase in its length is 0.10%.
What will e the percentage increase in it volume?
(A) Increase
(A) 0.03% (B) 0.10%
(B) Decrease
(C) 0.30% (D) None of these
(C) Remains unchanged
(D) Have its shape changed Q. 20 A thin copper wire of length  increases in length
Q.15 If    are linear, superficial and cubical by 1% when heated from 0°C to 100°C. If a then
expansivity of a solid, then– cooper plate of area 2l × l is heated from 0°C to
(A)  :  :  = 1 : 2 : 3 (B)  :  :  = 3 : 2 : 1 100°C, the percentage increase in its area will be –
(C)  :  :  = 2 : 3 : 1 (D)  :  :  = 3 : 1 : 2 (A) 1% (B) 2%
(C) 3% (D) 4%
Q.16 The volume of a solid decreases by 0.6% when
it is cooled through 50ºC. Its coefficient of linear
expansion is –
(A) 4 × 10–6 K (B) 5 × 10–5 K
(C) 6 × 10–4 K (D) 4 × 10–5 K
 LEVEL # 2
Q.1 A beaker is completely filled with water at 4°C. Q.6 When a bimetallic strip is heated, it
It will overflow
(A) does not bend at all
(A) when heated but not when cooled
(B) gets twisted in the form of an helix
(B) when cooled but not when heated
(C) bends in the form of an arc with the more
(C) both when heated or cooled
(D) neither when heated nor when cooled expandable material outside
(D) bends in the form of an arc with the more
Q. 2 Two spheres are made of same metal and have expandable material inside
same mass. One is solid and the other is hollow.
When heated to the same temperature, which of Q.7 A breaker is filled with water at 4°C. at one time
the following statements is correct about the
the temperature is increased by few degrees
percentage increase in their diameters?
above C and at another time it is decreased by
(A) it will be more for hollow sphere
a few degrees below 4°C. One shall observe that
(B) it will more for solid sphere
(A) The level remains constant in each case
(C) it will be same for both spheres
(B) In first case water flows while in second case
(D) It may be more or less depending on the
its level comes down
ration of the diameters of the two spheres
(C) In second case water overflows while in first
Q.3 A steel scale measures the length of a copper case it comes down
wire as 80.0cm, when both are at 20ºC (the
calibration temperature for scale). What would (D) Water overflows in both the cases
be the scale read for the length of wire when
both are at 40ºC ? Q.8 The variation of density of a solid with
(Given steel = 11 × 10–6 perºC temperature is given by the formula
and copper = 17 × 10–6 per ºC) d1
(A) d 2 
(A) 80.0096 cm (B) 80.0272 cm 1  (t 2  t1)
(C) 1 cm (D) 25.2 cm
d1
(B) d 2 
Q. 4 A liquid having co-efficient of cubical expansion 1  ( t 2  t1 )
(  ) is filled in the container having co-efficient d1
(C) d 2 
of linear expansion  . If, on heating, the liquid 1  2(t 2  t1 )
overflows, then which of the following relations
d1
is correct? (D) d 2 
2  2(t 2  t1 )
(A)  = 2 (B)  < 3
Q.9 Two spheres of the same radius are made from
(C)  > 3 (D) 2  = 3
the same material. One is hollow and the other is
Q. 5 If a bimetallic strip is heated, it will solid. If they are heated together from 20°C to
(A) bend towards the metal with lower thermal 100°C.
expansion coefficient (A) both will expand equally
(B) bend towards the metal with higher thermal (B) hollow sphere will expand more
expansion coefficient
(C) solid sphere will expand more
(C) not bend at all
(D) the relative expansion of solid and hollow
(D) twist itself into a helix
sphere depends on the material of sphere
Q. 10 Two rods of lengths 1 and 2 are made of Q.12 A brass rod and a lead rod each 80.00 cm long
materials whose coefficients of linear expansion at 0°C are clamped together at one end with their
are 1 and 2. If the difference between two free ends coinciding. The separation of the free
lengths is independent of temperature, then ends of the rods it the system is placed in steam
bath is (coefficients of linear expansions of brass
1 1 1  2 and lead are 2 × 10–5/°C and 1.0 × 10 –5/°C
(A)  (B) 
 2 2  2 1 respectively)
(A) 0.2 mm (B) 0.8 mm
12  22 (C) 1.4 mm (D) 1.6 mm
(C)  221  122 (D) 
1 2
Q.13 An iron tyre is to be fitted onto a wooden wheel
1.0 metre in diameter. The diameter of the tyre is
Q.11 The brass disc fits singly in a hole in a steel 6 mm, smaller than that of the wheel. The tyre
plate. To loose the disk from hole should be heated so that its temperature
(A) we should heat the system increases by a minimum of (given coefficient of
(B) we should cool the system volume expansion of iron is 3.6 × 10–5/°C)
(C) we should apply a strong external force (A) 167°C (B) 334°C
(D) it can not be separated (C) 500°C (D) 1000°C
 LEVEL # 3
Match the columns : (Q. 1) Q.5 A rectangular block is heated from 0°C to 100°C.
The percentage increase in its length is 0.10%.
Q.1 Column - I Column- II What will be the percentage increase in its
(A) Specific heat capacity S (P) l1 – l2 = constant volume ?
for l1 1 = l2 2
(A) 0.03% (B) 0.10%
(B) Two metals (l1, 1) and (Q) Y is same
(C) 0.30% (D) None of these
(l2, 2) are heated
uniformly
Q.6 The coefficient of linear expansion of crystal in
(C) Thermal stress (R) S =  for T = 0 one direction is 1 and that in every direction
(D) Four wires of same (S) Y t perpendicular to it 2 . The coefficient of cubical
material expansion is –
(A) 1 + 2 (B) 21 + 2
Q.2 When water is heated from 0°C to 10°C, its
(C) 1 + 22 (D) None of these
volume –
(A) increases Q.7 A metal cube of length 10.0 mm at 0°C (273 K) is
(B) decreases heated to 200°C (473 K). Given : its coefficient
of linear expansion is 2 × 10 –5 K –1 . The
(C) does not change
percentage change of its volume is-
(D) first decreases and then increases (A) 0.1 (B) 0.2
(C) 0.4 (D) 1.2
Q.3 A pendulum clock keeps correct time at 20°C.
Q.8 The density of a substance at 0°C is 10 g cm–3 and
The correction to be made during summer per
a t 100°C, i t s den si t y i s 9. 7g cm – 3 . The
day where the average temperature is 40°C, ( =
coefficient of linear expansion of substances is-
10–5/°C) will be–
(A) 0.0001/°C (B) 0.001/°C
(A) 5.64 sec (B) 6.64 sec
(C) 0.00001/°C (D) 0.1/°C.
(C) 7.64 sec (D) 8.64 sec
Q.9 The coefficient of linear expansion of iron is
Q.4 A liquid having coefficient of cubical expansion 0.000011°K. An iron rod is 10 metre long at
 is filled in the container having coefficient of 27°C. The length of the rod will be decreased
linear expansion . If on heating the liquid by 1.1 mm when the temperature of the rod
overflows, then which of the following relations changes to-
is correct ? (A) 0°C (B) 10°C
(C) 17°C (D) 20°C.
(A)  = 2 (B)  < 3
(C)  > 3 (D) 2 = 3
 LEVEL # 4
(Questions asked in previous AIEEE & IITJEE)
SECTION - A Q.2 A bimetallic strip is formed out of two identical
strips, one of copper and the other of brass.
This question contains Statement-1 and The coefficient of linear expansion of the two
Statemnet-2. Of the four choices given after the metals are  C and  B . On heating, the
temperature of the strip goes up by T and the
statements, choose the one that best describes the
strip bends to form an arc of radius of curvature
two statements. R. Then R is
Q.1 Statement -1 : The temperature dependence of (A) Directly proportional to T
(B) Inversely proportional to T
resistance is usually given as R = R0 (1 + t). The
(C) Directly proportional to | B – C|
resistance of a wire changes from 100  to 150  (D) none of these
when its temperature is increased from 27°C to
227°C. This implies that = 2.5 × 10–3/ °C. Q.3 Two rods one of aluminium of length 1 , having
oefficient of linear expansion a , and other of
Statement – 2 : R = R0 (1 + t) is valid only when steel of length 2 , having coefficient of linear
expansion  s are joined end to end. The
the change in the temperature T is small and expansion in both the rods is same for the same
R = (R – R0) < < R0. variation of temperature. Then the value of
1
(A) Statement-1 is true, Statement-2 is false. is -
1   2
(B) Statement-1 is true, Statement-2 is true;
Statement-2 is the correct explanation of
s a
(A) (B)
a   s a   s
Statement-1.
(C) Statement-1 is true, Statement-2 is true; a s
(C) (D)
Statement-2 is not correct explanation of s a
Statement-1. Q.4 An ideal gas expanding such that PT 2 =
constant. the coefficient of volume expansion of
(D) Statement-1 is false, Statement-2 is true.
the gas is–

SECTION - B 1 2
(A) (B)
Q.1 Two metal strips that constitute a thermostat T T
ust necessarily differ in their 3 4
(C) (D)
(A) Mass T T
(B) Length
(C) Resistivity
(D) Coefficient of linear expansion
 ANSWER KEY

LEVEL # 1
Q.No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Ans. C B B A A C C A A B B D D A A
Q.No. 16 17 18 19 20
Ans. D D D C B

LEVEL # 2
Q.No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

Ans . C C A C A C D A A B B B C

LEVEL # 3
1. (A)  (R), (B)  (P), (C)  (S), (D)  (Q)

Q.No. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Ans. D D C C C B A A

LEVEL # 4
SECTION-A
Q.No. 1
Ans. D

SECTION-B
Q.No. 1 2 3 4
Ans. D B A C