A thick glass tumbler cracks when boiling water is poured into it because

Assessment: JAMB UTME - Physics - 2024 Subject: Physics

Question 1 Report

A thick glass tumbler cracks when boiling water is poured into it because
Answer Details

When boiling water is poured into a thick glass tumbler, the inner surface of the glass is suddenly exposed to a much higher temperature compared to the outer surface. Glass is a poor conductor of heat, which means it does not transfer heat quickly. As a result, the inside of the tumbler becomes hot and attempts to **expand quickly**, while the outside remains cooler and does not expand at the same rate.


**This uneven expansion** creates tension between the inner and outer layers of the glass. The inner surface tries to expand but is constrained by the cooler, rigid outer surface, which isn't expanding as much or as quickly. This stress and tension can lead to cracking.


Therefore, the correct reason a thick glass tumbler cracks when boiling water is poured into it is because **the inside expands more rapidly than the outside.**

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