NVAEasyJEE 2023Heat, Temperature & Thermal Expansion

JEE Physics 2023 Question with Solution

A thin rod having a length of 1m1 \, \text{m} and area of cross-section 3×106m23 \times 10^{-6} \, m^2 is suspended vertically from one end. The rod is cooled from 210C210^\circ \text{C} to 160C160^\circ \text{C}. After cooling, a mass MM is attached at the lower end of the rod such that the length of the rod again becomes 1m1 \, \text{m}. Young's modulus and the coefficient of linear expansion of the rod are 2×1011N/m22 \times 10^{11} \, N/m^2 and 2×105K12 \times 10^{-5} \, K^{-1}, respectively. The value of MM is _____ kg. (Take g=10m/s2g = 10 \, \text{m/s}^2)

Answer

Correct answer:60

Step-by-step solution

Standard Method

Given: Length of rod =1m\ell = 1 \, \text{m}, area A=3×106m2A = 3 \times 10^{-6} \, \text{m}^2, coefficient of linear expansion α=2×105K1\alpha = 2 \times 10^{-5} \, K^{-1}, Young's modulus Y=2×1011N/m2Y = 2 \times 10^{11} \, N/m^2, temperature fall ΔT=210160=50K\Delta T = 210 - 160 = 50 \, \text{K}, and g=10m/s2g = 10 \, \text{m/s}^2.

Find: The mass MM required so that the rod regains length 1m1 \, \text{m} after cooling.

If Δ\Delta \ell is decease in length of rod due to decease in temperature,

Δ=αΔT\Delta \ell = \ell \alpha \Delta T Δ=1×2×105×50=103m\Delta \ell = 1 \times 2 \times 10^{-5} \times 50 = 10^{-3} \, \text{m}

Young Modulus

Y=FAΔY = \frac{\frac{F}{A}}{\frac{\Delta \ell}{\ell}}

Using F=MgF = Mg and A=3×106m2A = 3 \times 10^{-6} \, \text{m}^2,

2×1011=Mg3×10610312 \times 10^{11} = \frac{\frac{Mg}{3 \times 10^{-6}}}{\frac{10^{-3}}{1}} Mg=2×1011×3×109Mg = 2 \times 10^{11} \times 3 \times 10^{-9} Mg=6×102Mg = 6 \times 10^{2} M×10=600M \times 10 = 600 M=60kgM = 60 \, \text{kg}

Therefore, the value of the mass is 60kg60 \, \text{kg}.

Using thermal contraction and elastic extension balance

Given: The rod first contracts on cooling, and then stretches due to the attached mass. The final length again becomes the original 1m1 \, \text{m}.

Find: Mass MM for which elastic extension equals thermal contraction.

The change in length due to temperature change is given by

Δ=αΔT\Delta \ell = \ell \alpha \Delta T

where

α=2×105K1,ΔT=210C160C=50K\alpha = 2 \times 10^{-5} \, \text{K}^{-1}, \quad \Delta T = 210^\circ \text{C} - 160^\circ \text{C} = 50 \, \text{K}

Hence,

Δ=1×2×105×50=103m\Delta \ell = 1 \times 2 \times 10^{-5} \times 50 = 10^{-3} \, \text{m}

Now use Young's modulus relation as written in the solution:

Y=FA×ΔY = \frac{F}{A} \times \frac{\Delta \ell}{\ell}

Substituting F=MgF = Mg,

2×1011=Mg3×106×10312 \times 10^{11} = \frac{Mg}{3 \times 10^{-6}} \times \frac{10^{-3}}{1}

This gives

Mg=2×1011×3×106×103Mg = 2 \times 10^{11} \times 3 \times 10^{-6} \times 10^{-3} Mg=6×102Mg = 6 \times 10^{2} M=60010=60kgM = \frac{600}{10} = 60 \, \text{kg}

Thus, the value of MM is 6060, so the required mass is 60kg60 \, \text{kg}.

Common mistakes

  • Using the temperature difference with the wrong sign and treating cooling as negative length in the final magnitude calculation. Here only the magnitude of contraction is needed; use ΔT=50K\Delta T = 50 \, \text{K} and match that contraction with elastic extension.

  • Substituting the area incorrectly or missing powers of 1010 in A=3×106m2A = 3 \times 10^{-6} \, \text{m}^2. This changes the force by large factors; keep scientific notation carefully through the Young's modulus calculation.

  • Confusing mass MM with weight MgMg. Young's modulus relation uses force, so first write the stretching force as F=MgF = Mg, solve for MgMg, and then divide by gg to obtain MM.

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