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Thermal Properties of Matter appeared 13 times across 3 years — 1.5% of Physics. This question is from Thermal Expansion.

Year 2026 2025 2024 Total
Questions 5 7 1 13

Consider a rectangular sheet of solid material of length =9 cm and width d=4 cm. The coefficient of linear expansion is α=3.1×10⁻⁵ K⁻¹ at room temperature and one atmospheric pressure. The mass of sheet m=0.1 kg and the specific heat capacity Cv=900 J kg⁻¹K⁻¹. If the amount of heat supplied to the material is 8.1×10² J then change in area of the rectangular sheet is :-

Solution & Explanation

Related Formula
Δ Q = m Cv Δ T Δ A = A₀ β Δ T = A₀ (2α) Δ T
Core Logic

First, calculate the temperature change using heat supplied:

Δ T = (Δ Q)/(m Cv)

Substituting the values:

Δ T = (8.1 × 10²)/(0.1 × 900) = (810)/(90) = 9 K
Step 1: Calculate Change in Area

Initial area A₀ = × d = 9 cm × 4 cm = 36 cm² = 36 × 10⁻⁴ m². Now, substitute into the area expansion formula:

Δ A = 36 × 10⁻⁴ × 2 × (3.1 × 10⁻⁵) × 9 Δ A = 36 × 18 × 3.1 × 10⁻⁹ = 2008.8 × 10⁻⁹ m² ≈ 2.0 × 10⁻⁶ m²
Pattern Recognition

Always remember that areal expansion coefficient β = 2α. Convert geometry dimensions to standard units (1 cm² = 10⁻⁴ m²) cleanly before concluding arithmetic.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Thermal Properties of Matter

Reference Study Guides

More Thermal Properties of Matter Previous-Year Questions

Q27 jee_main_2026_21_jan_morning Calorimetry
A gas based geyser heats water flowing at the rate of 5.0 litres per minute from 27°C to 87°C. The rate of consumption of the gas is ____ g/s. (Take heat of combustion of gas = 5.0 × 10⁴ J/g, specific heat capacity of water = 4200 J/kg.°C)
  • A. 2.1
  • B. 4.2
  • C. 0.42
  • D. 0.21

Solution

Related Formula
P = (dm)/(dt) S Δ T Pheater = Rate of combustion × Heat of combustion
Core Logic

Water flow rate = 5 l/min = (5)/(60) kg/s = (1)/(12) kg/s.

The power required to heat the water is:

Pheater = ((dm)/(dt))water · S · Δ T Pheater = (1)/(12) × 4200 × (87 - 27) = (1)/(12) × 4200 × 60 W
Step 1: Solving for Gas Consumption

Let the rate of consumption of gas be x g/s. Heat generated by the gas per second must equal the power required to heat the water:

x × 5.0 × 10⁴ = (1)/(12) × 4200 × 60 x × 5.0 × 10⁴ = 4200 × 5 x = 4200 × 55 × 10⁴ = 4200 × 10⁻⁴ x = 0.42 g/s

Calorimetry diagram for Q27 - JEE Main 2026 Morning
Calorimetry diagram for Q27 - JEE Main 2026 Morning

Pattern Recognition

Equate the thermal power absorbed by fluid (dm/dt · c · Δ T) with the power output of fuel (dmfuel/dt · Lcombustion).

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Thermal Properties of Matter

Q40 jee_main_2026_21_jan_morning Thermal Expansion
An aluminium and steel rods having same lengths and cross-sections are joined to make total length of 120 cm at 30°C. The coefficient of linear expansion of aluminium and steel are 24 × 10⁻⁶/°C and 1.2 × 10⁻⁵/°C, respectively. The length of this composite rod when its temperature is raised to 100°C, is ____ cm.
  • A. 120.20
  • B. 120.15
  • C. 120.03
  • D. 120.06

Solution

Related Formula
Δ l = l₀ α Δ T lfinal = l₁ + l₂ + Δ l₁ + Δ l₂
Core Logic

Let the original lengths be l0A (aluminium) and l0S (steel). They have same length, so l0A = l0S = 60 cm. Change in temperature Δ T = 100°C - 30°C = 70°C.

Expansion of Aluminium: Δ lA = l₀ αA Δ T Expansion of Steel: Δ lS = l₀ αS Δ T

Step 1: Calculate Final Length
lfinal = l₀(1 + αA Δ T) + l₀(1 + αS Δ T) lfinal = l₀ [2 + (αA + αS)Δ T] lfinal = 60 [ 2 + (24 × 10⁻⁶ + 12 × 10⁻⁶) × 70 ] lfinal = 60 [ 2 + (36 × 10⁻⁶) × 70 ] lfinal = 60 [2 + 0.00252] = 120 + 60(0.00252) = 120 + 0.1512 = 120.15 cm

Thermal Expansion diagram for Q40 - JEE Main 2026 Morning
Thermal Expansion diagram for Q40 - JEE Main 2026 Morning

Pattern Recognition

For composite rods connected end-to-end, expansions simply add up. Convert 1.2 × 10⁻⁵ to 12 × 10⁻⁶ immediately for easy mental addition.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Thermal Properties of Matter

Q38 jee_main_2026_22_january_morning Thermal Conduction in Composite Rods
Rods x and y of equal dimensions but of different materials are joined as shown in figure. Temperatures of end points A and F are maintained at 100circC and 40circC respectively. Given the thermal conductivity of rod x is three times of that of rod y, the temperature at junction points B and E are (close to):
Thermal Properties of Matter diagram for Q38 - JEE Main 2026 January Morning
Composite rods x and y joined end-to-end with temperature endpoints.
  • A. 89circC and 73circC respectively
  • B. 80circC and 60circC respectively
  • C. 80circC and 70circC respectively
  • D. 60circC and 45circC respectively

Solution

Related Formula
H = Δ TReq, R = (l)/(KA)
Core Logic

Solution thermal network for Q38 - JEE Main 2026 Morning
Composite rods x and y joined end-to-end with temperature endpoints.

Let thermal resistance of rod y be 3R and rod x be R (since Kₓ = 3Ky).

Using thermal current equations:

H = (100 - 40)/((11R)/(2)) H = (100 - TB)/(R), H = (TE - 40)/(3R)

Solving yields TB = 89circC and TE = 73circC.

Pattern Recognition

Sees: Composite thermal conduction network with series/parallel segments. Shortcut: Calculate equivalent thermal resistances and equate heat currents across junctions. Check: Matches option (1). ✓

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Thermal Properties of Matter

Q26 jee_main_2026_28_january_morning Calorimetry and Heat Transfer
10 kg of ice at -10°C is added to 100kg of water to lower its temperature from 25°C . Consider no heat exchange to surroundings. The decrement to the temperature of water is ____ °C. (specific heat of ice = 2100 ~J/Kg.°C, specific heat of water = 4200 ~J/Kg.°C, latent heat of fusion of ice = 3.36 × 10⁵ ~J/Kg)
  • A. 10
  • B. 15
  • C. 6.67
  • D. 11.6

Solution

Related Formula

Q = mcΔ T Q = mL

Core Logic

Heat gained by ice to reach final temperature T must equal the heat lost by the water to reach temperature T.

Step 1: Energy Balance Equation

Let T be the final temperature of the mixture. Heat gained by ice to reach 0°C + Heat to melt + Heat to reach T = Heat lost by water.

10 × 3.36 × 10⁵ + 10 × 2100 × 10 + 10 × 4200 × (T - 0) = 100 × 4200 × (25 - T)
Step 2: Solving for Final Temperature
3.36 × 10⁶ + 2.1 × 10⁵ + 4.2 × 10⁴ T = 1.05 × 10⁷ - 4.2 × 10⁵ T 3.57 × 10⁶ + 4.2 × 10⁴ T = 1.05 × 10⁷ - 4.2 × 10⁵ T

Solving for T:

4.62 × 10⁵ T = 6.93 × 10⁶ T = 15°C
Step 3: Calculating Decrement

The decrement in the temperature of water is:

Δ T = 25 - 15 = 10°C
Pattern Recognition

When mixing ice and water, track the 3 stages for ice (warm to 0, melt, warm to T). Equate total heat gained to heat lost by water. Always solve for T first, then check what the question actually asks (decrement).

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Thermal Properties of Matter

Q33 jee_main_2026_28_january_morning Calorimetry and Heat Transfer
Which of the following best represents the temperature versus heat supplied graph for water, in the range of -20°C to 120°C ?
  • A. Graph 1
  • B. Graph 2
  • C. Graph 3
  • D. Graph 4

Solution

Related Formula

Q = mcΔ T Q = mL

Core Logic

When heat is supplied steadily:

  • Ice warms from -20°C to 0°C (slope = 1/(m · cice)).
  • Ice melts at 0°C (temperature constant, flat horizontal line).
  • Water warms from 0°C to 100°C (slope = 1/(m · cwater)).
  • Water boils at 100°C (temperature constant, longer flat horizontal line because Lv > Lf).
  • Steam warms from 100°C to 120°C.
Step 1: Identifying Graph Features

The graph must have two flat plateaus corresponding to phase changes at 0°C and 100°C. The heating curves (slanted lines) should show the temperature rising. Option (2) perfectly matches these distinct segments.

Pattern Recognition

Look for the horizontal phase-change steps precisely at 0 and 100 degrees Celsius for standard pressure H₂O.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Thermal Properties of Matter

More Thermal Properties of Matter Questions — jee_main_2025_04_april_evening

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JEE Physics: Waves (+15.5%) | Electrostatics: Concentric Shells (-29.7%) | Modern Physics: Photoelectric Clones (+34.2%) | Mathematics: Definite Integrals (+18.1%) | Chemistry: Coordination Splitting (-11.4%) | JEE Physics: Waves (+15.5%) | Electrostatics: Concentric Shells (-29.7%) | Modern Physics: Photoelectric Clones (+34.2%) | Mathematics: Definite Integrals (+18.1%) | Chemistry: Coordination Splitting (-11.4%)