Question

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

Answer 1

By definition, the increase in volume will be:

$$\Delta V = \beta V_0\Delta T$$

where $\beta$ is the cubic expansivity, $V_0 = 10cm^3$ is the initial volume, and $\Delta T = 100\degree C$is the change in temperature. Since $\Delta V = 0.182cm^3$, the cubic expansivity is:

$$\beta = \dfrac{\Delta V}{V_0\Delta T}\\ \beta = \dfrac{0.182}{10\cdot 100} = 1.82\times 10^{-4}\degree C^{-1}$$

Answer. $1.82\times 10^{-4}\degree C^{-1}$.