Engineering
Physics
Thermal Expansion
Question

A metal cube with temperature coefficient of cubical expansion 'γm' has (1n)th of its volume submerged while floating in a liquid with temperature coefficient of cubical expansion 'γ'. If the temperature of both, the liquid as well as the cube increases by θ, the fraction of volume of cube submerged while floating would be

1n

(1+γlθ)n

[1+(γlγm)θ]n

[2+(γlγm)θ]n

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Solution

When a cube floats, the fraction submerged (f) equals the ratio of its density to the liquid's density: f = ρcubeliq. Initially, fi = 1/n.

After a temperature change θ, densities change due to cubical expansion. The new density is ρ' = ρ/(1+γθ). The new submerged fraction f' becomes:

ρcubeρliq×1+γθ1+γmθ

Since γθ is small, we approximate 1/(1+γmθ) ≈ (1-γmθ). Substituting fi = 1/n gives:

1n×(1+γθ)(1-γmθ)1n[1+(γ-γm)θ]

Final Answer: [1+(γ-γm)θ]n