250+ TOP MCQs on Thermal Expansion | Class 11 Physics

Physics Multiple Choice Questions on “Thermal Expansion”.

1. It is possible that with decrease in temperature volume may increase. True or False?
a) True
b) False

Answer: a
Clarification: Usually with increase in temperature volume increases. But water shows anomalous behaviour when cooled from 4℃ to 0℃. Its volume increases when it is cooled from 4℃ to 0℃, while one would expect volume to decrease with decrease in temperature.

2. The value of coefficient of thermal expansion is always the same for a material. True or False?
a) True
b) False

3. What is the value of coefficient of volume expansion for an ideal gas?
a) (ΔV/V)/Δ T
b) 2*coefficient of linear expansion
c) 1/3 * coefficient of linear expansion
d) (V/ΔV)/ Δ T

Answer: a
Clarification: ΔV/V = α*ΔT ⇒ α = (ΔV/V)/ΔT. Note that the coefficient of volume expansion is 3 times the coefficient of linear expansion.

4. What is the relation between coefficient of area expansion(A) and coefficient of volume expansion(B)?
a) B = 1.5A
b) A = 1.5B
c) A = 3B
d) B = 3A

Answer: a
Clarification: Let the coefficient of linear expansion be α. The coefficient of area expansion is 2α and the coefficient of volume expansion is 3α. ∴ The coefficient of volume expansion is 1.5 times the coefficient of area expansion ∴ B=1.5A.

5. A rod is lying on the ground with both ends free. It has a length of 1m. Coefficient of linear expansion equal to 1.1*10^-5per &degC. Calculate the strain when the change in temperature is 10K.
a) 11*10^-5
b) 1.1*10^-5
c) 0
d) 311.3*10^-5

Answer: c
Clarification: When the rod is heated it permanently increases in length. As there is no force holding it in its initial length from either side, there will be no internal forces to produce strain.

6. What is the value of coefficient of area expansion for a sphere? Assume coefficient of linear expansion is α.
a) 2α
b) α
c) 3α
d) α/2

Answer: a
Clarification: The area(A) of a sphere is 4πr². When the temperature increases by ΔT, let change in area be dA. Let the radius increase by dr. The coefficient of area expansion is (dA/A)/ΔT.
∴ dA = 4π(r – dr)²– 4πr² ≅ 8πrdr.
Also, dr = rαΔT.
The coefficient of area expansion is (dA/A)/ΔT
= (8πr*rαΔT/4π) / ΔT
= 2α.

7. A uniform metal sheet has a hole in its centre. What happens to hole when the sheet is uniformly heated?
a) Its size increases
b) Its size decreases
c) It changes shape
d) Remains the same size

Answer: a
Clarification: The hole’s circumference is made of metal. When the sheet is heated this circular circumference will expand and therefore the size of hole will increase. The hole will not get deformed as the sheet is uniform in all directions from the centre of hole and is also heated uniformly.

8. What is the unit of coefficient of area expansion?
a) per °C
b) °C
c) per (°C)²
d) (°C)²

Answer: a
Clarification: The coefficient of area expansion is defined as (ΔA/A)/ΔT. So we see that its unit is per °C. Note that all the coefficients of thermal expansion, namely linear, area & volume have the same unit.

9. A rod having α = 1*10^-5per °C and length of 70cm has one of its end rigidly connected to another rod of length 1m and α= 0.5*10^-5per °C. Find the new length of the two joined rods when their temperature is increased by 30℃.
a) 170.021cm
b) 169.021cm
c) 171.031cm
d) 170.031cm

Answer: a
Clarification: The new length of first rod: I₁ = 70(1+1*10^-5*30) = 70.021cm
Similarly I₂ = 100(1+ 0.5*10^-5*30) = 100.015cm Therefore, new length = 70.021 + 100.015
= 170.036cm.