Question

A hot glass full of hot water is put into the freezer. The glass breaks because it contracts more than the water as it cools. The reason for this is: A. the glass has a smaller coefficient of linear expansion than the water. B. the glass has a larger coefficient of linear expansion than the water. C. the water has a larger coefficient of linear expansion than the glass. D. the two have equal coefficients of linear expansion.

Answer 1

Glass undergoes thermal expansion. The outer surface of the glass (with hot water) rapidly contracts when it is put inside the refrigerator. While the inner surface glass is still expanding because of the hot water. This causes the glass to crack.The reason would be C. the water has a larger coefficient of linear expansion than the glass. Water expands significantly when it freezes.