10) The difference in length between a brass and an iron rod is 14 cm at 10


C. What must be the length of the iron for this difference to remain at 14 cm when both rods are heated to 100

C ? (linear expansivity of brass is

1 answer

To solve this problem, we need to use the concept of linear thermal expansion, which is given by the formula:

\[ \Delta L = L_0 \cdot \alpha \cdot \Delta T \]

Where:

  • \(\Delta L\) = change in length
  • \(L_0\) = original length
  • \(\alpha\) = coefficient of linear expansion
  • \(\Delta T\) = change in temperature

Let:

  • The length of the brass rod at \(10^\circ C\) be \(L_{b,0}\).
  • The length of the iron rod at \(10^\circ C\) be \(L_{i,0}\).

From the problem statement, the difference between the two lengths at \(10^\circ C\) is given by:

\[ L_{b,0} - L_{i,0} = 14 , \text{cm} \quad \text{(1)} \]

When heated from \(10^\circ C\) to \(100^\circ C\), the change in temperature (\(\Delta T\)) is:

\[ \Delta T = 100 - 10 = 90^\circ C \]

The change in length for each rod is given by linear thermal expansion:

\[ \Delta L_b = L_{b,0} \cdot \alpha_b \cdot 90 \]

\[ \Delta L_i = L_{i,0} \cdot \alpha_i \cdot 90 \]

Now, the new lengths at \(100^\circ C\) will be:

\[ L_{b} = L_{b,0} + \Delta L_b = L_{b,0} + L_{b,0} \cdot \alpha_b \cdot 90 = L_{b,0}(1 + \alpha_b \cdot 90) \]

\[ L_{i} = L_{i,0} + \Delta L_i = L_{i,0} + L_{i,0} \cdot \alpha_i \cdot 90 = L_{i,0}(1 + \alpha_i \cdot 90) \]

We want to maintain the length difference of 14 cm at \(100^\circ C\):

\[ L_b - L_i = 14 , \text{cm} \quad \text{(2)} \]

Substituting the expressions for \(L_b\) and \(L_i\) from the thermal expansion formulas into equation (2):

\[ L_{b,0}(1 + \alpha_b \cdot 90) - L_{i,0}(1 + \alpha_i \cdot 90) = 14 \]

Using equation (1) from above, \(L_{b,0} = L_{i,0} + 14\):

Substituting \(L_{b,0}\) into the equation gives:

\[ (L_{i,0} + 14)(1 + \alpha_b \cdot 90) - L_{i,0}(1 + \alpha_i \cdot 90) = 14 \]

Expanding this:

\[ L_{i,0} (1 + \alpha_b \cdot 90) + 14(1 + \alpha_b \cdot 90) - L_{i,0}(1 + \alpha_i \cdot 90) = 14 \]

Simplifying gives:

\[ L_{i,0} \alpha_b \cdot 90 + 14 + 14 \alpha_b \cdot 90 - L_{i,0} \alpha_i \cdot 90 = 14 \]

So now we can simplify and isolate \(L_{i,0}\):

\[ L_{i,0}(\alpha_b - \alpha_i) \cdot 90 + 14 \alpha_b \cdot 90 = 0 \]

To find \(L_{i,0}\):

\[ L_{i,0} = -\frac{14 \alpha_b}{(\alpha_b - \alpha_i)} \quad \text{(3)} \]

We need the values of \(\alpha_b\) and \(\alpha_i\):

  • Coefficient of linear expansion of brass, \(\alpha_b ≈ 19 \times 10^{-6} , \text{°C}^{-1}\)
  • Coefficient of linear expansion of iron, \(\alpha_i ≈ 11 \times 10^{-6} , \text{°C}^{-1}\)

Now, substituting these values into equation (3):

\[ L_{i,0} = -\frac{14 \times 19 \times 10^{-6}}{(19 \times 10^{-6} - 11 \times 10^{-6})} \]

Calculating this gives the original length of the iron rod \(L_{i,0}\).

Calculating:

\[ = -\frac{266 \times 10^{-6}}{(8 \times 10^{-6})} = L_{i,0} \approx 33.25 , \text{cm} \]

Thus, the length of the iron rod at \(10^\circ C\) should be approximately 33.25 cm for the difference to remain 14 cm when heated to \(100^\circ C\).