Question

The increase in the volume of 10cm³ of mercury when the temperature rises by 100^oc is 0.182cm^3. What is the cubic expansivity of mercury?

Answer 1

Given:

$V_0=10\:\rm cm^3$

$\Delta V=0.182\:\rm cm^3$

$\Delta T=100\:\rm^\circ C$

The volume thermal expansion in described by an equation

$$\Delta V=V_0\gamma\Delta T$$

Hence, the cubic expansivity

$$\gamma=\frac{\Delta V}{V_0\Delta T}=\frac{0.182}{10*100}=1.82*10^{-4}\:\rm K^{-1}$$