Why does a hot glass chimney often crack when a drop of water falls on it?

Question

Why does a hot glass chimney often crack when a drop of waterfalls on it?

Short/Brief Note

Solution

A hot glass chimney often crack when a drop of water falls on it because the glass of the chimney expands due to constant heating by the flame of the chimney but as a cooler water drop falls on the glass, the outer surface contracts more than the inner side of the glass. This unequal contraction between the two surfaces causes a strain and the glass cracks.

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Anomalous Expansion of Water

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Q 18 Q 17 Q 19

Chapter 5: Heat and Energy - Thermal Expansion [Page 203]

APPEARS IN

Frank Physics Part 1 [English] Class 9 ICSE

Chapter 5 Heat and Energy
Thermal Expansion | Q 18 | Page 203

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