Physics 2005 JAMB Past Questions - Question 48: when very hot water is poured into two identical thin and thick glass tumblers in equal volumes, the thick one cracks :because of

Correct Answer

C

Explanation

When very hot water is poured into two identical thin and thick glass tumblers in equal volumes, the thick tumbler is more likely to crack compared to the thin tumbler due to a phenomenon known as thermal stress.

Thermal stress occurs when there is a significant difference in temperature between different parts of an object, leading to uneven expansion or contraction. In the case of the thick glass tumbler, it takes longer for the heat to penetrate through the thickness of the glass. This means that the outer layers of the glass become hot, while the inner layers remain relatively cool.

As the outer layers of the thick glass tumbler expand due to the heat, they try to expand, but the inner layers resist expansion because they are still cooler. This results in significant stress being exerted on the thick glass, which can cause it to crack or shatter. The thinner glass tumbler, on the other hand, heats up and expands more uniformly, experiencing less thermal stress, which makes it less likely to crack.

So, the difference in thickness between the two glass tumblers leads to uneven heating and differential expansion, causing the thick tumbler to crack when hot water is poured into it.