Question

Two metallic spheres $S_1$ and $S_2$ are made of the same material and have got identical surface finish. The mass of $S_1$ is thrice that of $S_2$. Both the spheres are heated to same high temperature and placed in the same room having lower temperature but are thermally insulated from each other. The ratio of the initial rate of cooling of $S_1$ to that $S_2$ is

• A. $\frac{1}{3}$
• B. $\frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}$
• C. $\frac{\sqrt{3}}{1}$
• D. ${\left(\frac{1}{3}\right)}^{1/3}$

Answer 1

The correct option is D ${\left(\frac{1}{3}\right)}^{1/3}$

The rate at which energy leaves the object is
$\frac{\Delta Q}{\Delta t}=e\sigma A{T}^4$
Since, $\Delta Q=mC\Delta T$, we get
$\frac{\Delta T}{\Delta t}=\frac{e\sigma A{T}^4}{mC}$
Also, since $m=\frac{4}{3}\pi r^3\rho$ for a sphere we get
$A=4\pi r^2=4\pi {\left(\frac{3m}{4\pi \rho }\right)}^{2/3}$
Hence, $\frac{\Delta T}{\Delta t}=\frac{e\sigma T^4}{mC}\left[4\pi {\left(\frac{3m}{4\pi \rho }\right)}^{2/3}\right]=K{\left(\frac{1}{m}\right)}^{1/3}$
For the given two bodies
$\frac{(\Delta T/\Delta t{)}_1}{(\Delta T/\Delta t{)}_2}={\left(\frac{m_2}{m_1}\right)}^{1/3}={\left(\frac{1}{3}\right)}^{1/3}$