If you put a metal washer in a cup of ice water, will the hole shrink or expand?

Answer 1

assuming that the ring gets colder when put in the ice water, then the hole will shrink in proportion to the reduction in size of the metal as it cools

Answer 2

Think of the entire washer getting smaller. The inside and outside diameters both decrease.

The opposite effect (heating the washer) is frequently used in assembling equipment - a piece like a washer is heated with a torch or in an oven, then placed over another mating part. The washer cools and shrinks into place - very tightly.

Answer 3

The hole will expand because the ring of metal will shrink. When substances get colder, they contract. The exception is water, which, when frozen solid, will expand because its molecules will form a larger crystalline structure that takes up more space, and thus expand. Before it freezes though, the water will shrink as it loses heat.

The hole will expand because the ring of metal itself shrinks to the center between the edges of each part of the ring. It will not contract towards the hole. If you cut off a section of the ring, and thus not have the being any part of it, then it will shrink towards its midpoint. This midpoint continues in a circle for the rest of the ring.

Answer 4

Cooling water to below 4°C causes expansion ... water is the only substance that does this.
However the water doesn't enter into it .. only its temperature.

Metals when cooled will contract. If the washer's temperature is ABOVE the water temperature, then it will contract in area, therefore the hole will contract too.

If at the same temperature as the water, it will not change and, if colder than the water it will expand as will the hole.

Answer 5

The metal will contract making the hole larger, alos making the perimeter of the washer smaller.

Answer 6

The washer gets smaller.
The hole gets smaller.

Answer 7

Will shrink but the difference is so small that you would not notice it.

Answer 8

shrink

Answer 9

It will shrink.


Doug