An automobile radiator is filled to the brim with water when the engine is cool.

Question

An automobile radiator is filled to the brim with water when the engine is cool. What happens to the water when the engine is running and the water has been raised to a high temperature? (The coefficient of expansion of water is greater than that of steel.)

1 The water shrinks and does not spill out, because the water shrinks more than the steel radiator.

2 The water shrinks but still spills out, because the steel radiator shrinks more.    

3 The water expands and spills out, because the water expands in volume more than the steel radiator.

4 The volume of, and pressure on, the water stays constant.

5 The water expands but does not spill out, because the steel radiator expands in volume more than the water.

Explanation / Answer

Change in volume = Initial volume x coefficient of expansion x change in temperature

Since coefficient of expansion of water is greater than that of steel, the expansion in water will be greater than expansion of steel radiator for same change in temperature. Thus water expands and spills out, because the water expands in volume more than the steel radiator.

Ans is 3

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