An aluminum-alloy rod has a length of 10.0 cm at 20°C and a length of 10.015 cm at the boiling point of water (1000C). (a) What is the length of the rod at the freezing point of water (0 0C)? (b) What is the temperature if the length of the rod is 10.009 cm? /4mks

a.  9.99625 cm b. 68 °C

Explanation:

(a) What is the length of the rod at the freezing point of water (0 0C)?

Before we find the length of the rod, we need to find the coefficient of linear expansion, α = (L - L₀)/[L₀(T - T₀)] where L₀ = length of rod at temperature T₀ = 10.0 cm, T₀ = 20 °C, L = length of rod at temperature T = 10.015 cm and T = 100 °C

Substituting the values of the variables into the equation, we have

α = (L - L₀)/[L₀(T - T₀)]

α = (10.015 cm - 10.0 cm)/[10.0 cm(100 °C - 20 °C)]

α = 0.015 cm/[10.0 cm × 80 °C]

α = 0.015 cm/[800.0 cm °C]

α = 0.00001875 /°C

We now find the length L₁ at T₁ = 0 °C from

L₁ = L₀(1 + α(T₁ - T₀))

So, substituting the values of the variables into the equation, we have

L₁ = L₀(1 + α(T₁ - T₀))

L₁ = 10.0 cm[1 +  0.00001875 /°C(0° C - 20 °C)]

L₁ = 10.0 cm[1 +  0.00001875 /°C × -20° C]

L₁ = 10.0 cm[1 - 0.000375]

L₁ = 10.0 cm[0.999625]

L₁ = 9.99625 cm

(b) What is the temperature if the length of the rod is 10.009 cm?

With length L₃ = 10.009 cm at temperature T₃, using

L₃ = L₀(1 + α(T₃ - T₀))

making T₃ subject of the formula, we have

L₃/L₀ = 1 + α(T₃ - T₀)

L₃/L₀ - 1 = α(T₃ - T₀)

T₃ - T₀ = (L₃/L₀ - 1)/α

T₃ = T₀ + (L₃/L₀ - 1)/α

substituting the values of the variables into the equation, we have

T₃ = 20 °C + (10.009 cm/10.0 cm - 1)/0.00001875 /°C

T₃ = 20 °C + (1.0009 - 1)/0.00001875 /°C

T₃ = 20 °C + 0.0009/0.00001875 /°C

T₃ = 20 °C + 48 °C

T₃ = 68 °C

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