To determine the common temperature at which the brass ring will just slide onto the steel rod, we need to consider how the dimensions of both materials change with temperature. This phenomenon is due to thermal expansion, which affects solids differently based on their material properties.
Understanding Thermal Expansion
Thermal expansion refers to the way materials expand when heated. Each material has a coefficient of linear expansion, which quantifies how much it expands per degree change in temperature. For steel, the coefficient is approximately 11 x 10-6 °C-1, while for brass, it is about 19 x 10-6 °C-1.
Initial Dimensions
Let's start with the initial dimensions:
- The diameter of the steel rod at 25°C is 3.000 cm.
- The interior diameter of the brass ring at 25°C is 2.992 cm.
Setting Up the Equation
We want to find the temperature at which the diameter of the brass ring equals the diameter of the steel rod. We can express the diameters as functions of temperature:
- Diameter of the steel rod at temperature T: Dsteel(T) = 3.000 + (3.000 × 11 x 10-6 × (T - 25))
- Diameter of the brass ring at temperature T: Dbrass(T) = 2.992 + (2.992 × 19 x 10-6 × (T - 25))
Finding the Common Temperature
To find the temperature at which the ring just fits over the rod, we set the two diameter equations equal to each other:
3.000 + (3.000 × 11 x 10-6 × (T - 25)) = 2.992 + (2.992 × 19 x 10-6 × (T - 25))
Simplifying the Equation
Now, let's simplify this equation:
1. Distribute the terms:
- 3.000 + 3.000 × 11 x 10-6 × (T - 25)
- 2.992 + 2.992 × 19 x 10-6 × (T - 25)
2. Rearranging gives us:
3.000 - 2.992 = (2.992 × 19 x 10-6 - 3.000 × 11 x 10-6) × (T - 25)
3. Calculate the left side:
0.008 = (2.992 × 19 x 10-6 - 3.000 × 11 x 10-6) × (T - 25)
4. Calculate the coefficients:
2.992 × 19 = 0.000056784
3.000 × 11 = 0.000033
So, 0.000056784 - 0.000033 = 0.000023784
5. Now we have:
0.008 = 0.000023784 × (T - 25)
6. Solving for T:
T - 25 = 0.008 / 0.000023784
T - 25 ≈ 336.5
T ≈ 361.5°C
Final Result
The common temperature at which the brass ring will just slide onto the steel rod is approximately 361.5°C. This temperature allows for the expansion of both materials to match, enabling the ring to fit over the rod seamlessly.