Q.

Dear sir,
A question in the module 3c says..
When a sphere is heated, the largest percentage is observed in
A) diameter
B)volume
C) density D) area
Ans:volume.....
But sir, if volume increase s then even area and diameter will increase, so how can the answer be only
volume???
My sincere thanks
Santosh.bk
(Student at jkv)

Answer:
If diameter increases by 1%, then area increases by twice (=2%). Volume increases by thrice(=3%).
Density DECREASES by thrice(=3%).
Please read more..
1. This discussion is applicable to ISOTROPIC solids that have same value of expansion coefficient in all
direction.
All dimensions increase by the same percentage. This is to be understood.
If original dimensions are different, then they will increase by different amounts, but their percentage
increase will be same.

change in dimension

100
original dimension

expansion coefficient

change in temperature 100

% change =
=
.
So, percentage change is independent of dimension.
If a cube of side 1 m is there, then if one side increases by 1mm, then each side will increase by 1 mm.
Here amount of increase all sides is same. And percentage increases is also same (percentage = 0.1%).
But if a cuboid of sides, 1m, 2m, 3m is taken, and if 1m increases by 1mm (0.1%). Then 2m side also
increases by 0.1% = 2mm increase. 3m side also increases by 0.1% = 3mm increase.
So, it is percentage increase which is same.
Radius changes, circumferences changes, length changes, breadth changes, height changes - all changes
happen by the same percentage (provided temperature change is same, and material is same).
2. Also, percentage changes are applicable for cooling. All sides reduce by same percentage
upon cooling.
3. If a dimension increases by an amount x upon heating from T1 by t, then it will reduce by same x
upon cooling down from T1 by t. Thermal effects work both ways.
4. Percentage increase: Imagine if length of a cuboid alone increases by 1%, but breadth and height
remain same. Then volume will increase by 1% only. If length and breadth each increase by 1% but if
height does not increase, then volume increases by 2%.

If length, breadth, height all increase by 1% each, then volume increases by 3%.
Volume increases by as much percentage as sum of individual linear percentage increases.
5. If length, breadth, height all increase by 1% each, volume increases by 3%.
6. For a sphere, if radius or diameter increase by 1% then volume increases by 3%. Area which depends
on square of radius increases by 2%, volume which depends on cube of radius, will increase by 3%.
Imagine if there was any other important property that dependent on fourth power of radius, that would
increase by 4%.
7. For ANISOTROPIC solids, since expansion coefficients are different in different directions, then
percentage changes are different in different directions.
If length increases by say 1%, breadth by say 2%, and height by say 3%, then volume will increase by
addition of all linear percentages = 1% + 2% + 3% = 6%.