Two metals P and Q are heated through the same temperature difference. If the ratio of the linear expansivities of P to Q is 2:3 and the ratio of their leng...
Two metals P and Q are heated through the same temperature difference. If the ratio of the linear expansivities of P to Q is 2:3 and the ratio of their length is 3: 4 respectively, the ratio of the increase in lengths of P to Q is
Answer Details
The increase in length of a material due to heating is proportional to its linear expansivity and the change in temperature. The linear expansivity of a material is defined as the change in length per unit length per degree Celsius change in temperature.
Let the increase in length of metal P be x, and the increase in length of metal Q be y. Let the temperature difference be ΔT. Then, we can write:
x = αP ΔT Lp ...(1)
y = αQ ΔT Lq ...(2)
where αP and αQ are the linear expansivities of metals P and Q respectively, and Lp and Lq are their original lengths.
We are given that the ratio of the linear expansivities of P to Q is 2:3. So, we can write:
αP/αQ = 2/3
Cross-multiplying, we get:
3αP = 2αQ
αP/αQ = 2/3 = 2k/3k ...(3)
where k is a constant.
We are also given that the ratio of the lengths of P to Q is 3:4. So, we can write:
Lp/Lq = 3/4
Cross-multiplying, we get:
4Lp = 3Lq
Lp/Lq = 3/4 = 3m/4m ...(4)
where m is a constant.
Substituting equations (3) and (4) into equations (1) and (2), we get:
x = (2k/3k)αQ ΔT (3m)
y = αQ ΔT (4m)
Simplifying, we get:
x/y = (2k/3k) (3/4)
x/y = 1/2
Therefore, the ratio of the increase in lengths of P to Q is 1:2.
Hence, the correct answer is 1:2.