Thermal Expansion of Solids, Liquids and Gases Quiz
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5 questions, one answer each
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1. What is thermal expansion?
- A. A. The decrease in size of a substance when cooled
- B. B. The increase in size of a substance when its temperature rises
- C. C. The process of a solid turning into a liquid
- D. D. The increase in pressure of a gas at constant volume
2. For the same temperature rise, which state of matter expands the most?
- A. A. Solid
- B. B. Liquid
- C. C. Gas
- D. D. All expand by exactly the same amount
3. Why do solids expand less than gases for the same temperature rise?
- A. A. Solid particles do not gain kinetic energy when heated
- B. B. Solid particles are held in fixed positions by strong forces and can only vibrate more, not spread apart
- C. C. Solids do not contain particles
- D. D. Solids lose mass when heated
4. A thermostat uses a bimetallic strip to switch a heater off automatically. Explain why the strip bends when heated.
- A. A. Because one of the two metals melts
- B. B. Because the two different metals in the strip expand by different amounts as they heat
- C. C. Because the strip loses electrons when heated
- D. D. Because heating makes the strip magnetic
5. A sealed glass bottle completely full of liquid is left in strong sunlight and the liquid warms up significantly. Using ideas about thermal expansion, explain what is likely to happen and why.
- A. A. Nothing will happen, as liquids do not expand
- B. B. The bottle may crack or burst, because the liquid expands as it warms but has no space to expand into
- C. C. The liquid will contract and pull away from the glass
- D. D. The glass will expand faster than the liquid, preventing any pressure build-up