IPhO 1968 · Theory problem 2

Mixing two quantities of toluene at different temperatures

There are \(300\ \mathrm{cm}^3\) toluene of \(0^\circ\mathrm{C}\) temperature in a glass and \(110\ \mathrm{cm}^3\) toluene of \(100^\circ\mathrm{C}\) temperature in another glass. (The sum of the volumes is \(410\ \mathrm{cm}^3\).) Find the final volume after the two liquids are mixed. The coefficient of volume expansion of toluene \(\beta=0.001({}^\circ\mathrm{C})^{-1}\). Neglect the loss of heat.

Official English text of the problem.

Answers

  • Problem 2: The final volume is \(\boxed{410\ \mathrm{cm}^3}\).

Solution

Use the standard linear thermal-expansion law for a fixed mass, \[ V(t)=V(0)(1+\beta t), \] where \(t\) is measured relative to \(0^\circ\mathrm{C}\). Assume that toluene’s specific heat capacity is constant and that the heat capacities of the glasses are negligible.

First, determine the mass ratio, since heat exchange depends on mass. The hot portion’s volume at \(0^\circ\mathrm{C}\) would be \[ V_{\mathrm h}(0) =\frac{110\ \mathrm{cm}^3} {1+(0.001\ {}^\circ\mathrm{C}^{-1})(100^\circ\mathrm{C})} =100\ \mathrm{cm}^3. \] At the same temperature both portions have the same density, so \[ \frac{m_{\mathrm c}}{m_{\mathrm h}} =\frac{300}{100}=3. \]

Conservation of energy requires the heat gained by the cold portion to equal the heat lost by the hot portion: \[ m_{\mathrm c}c(t_{\mathrm f}-0^\circ\mathrm{C}) =m_{\mathrm h}c(100^\circ\mathrm{C}-t_{\mathrm f}). \] Cancelling the common specific heat \(c\) and using the mass ratio gives \[ 3t_{\mathrm f}=100^\circ\mathrm{C}-t_{\mathrm f}, \qquad t_{\mathrm f}=25^\circ\mathrm{C}. \]

The combined liquid would occupy \(300+100=400\ \mathrm{cm}^3\) at \(0^\circ\mathrm{C}\). Hence its volume at the final temperature is \[ V_{\mathrm f} =(400\ \mathrm{cm}^3) \left[1+(0.001\ {}^\circ\mathrm{C}^{-1})(25^\circ\mathrm{C})\right] =\boxed{410\ \mathrm{cm}^3}. \]

Equivalently, the cold portion expands to \(307.5\ \mathrm{cm}^3\), while the hot portion contracts to \(102.5\ \mathrm{cm}^3\). Their volume changes cancel within the linear-expansion model.

The solution was checked against the official solution.