A weight is suspended from a long metal wire. If the wire suddenly breaks, its temperature

Options

A. rises
B. falls
C. remains unchanged
D. attains a value 0 K

Answer

To solve the question regarding the temperature change of a weight suspended from a long metal wire when the wire suddenly breaks, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understand the Situation**:
- We have a weight suspended from a long metal wire. The wire is under tension due to the weight, which causes it to stretch (elongate) by a certain amount, denoted as ΔL.

2. **Elastic Potential Energy**:
- When the wire is stretched, it stores elastic potential energy. This energy can be calculated using the formula:
\[ U = \frac{1}{2} k (\Delta L)^2 \]
where \( U \) is the elastic potential energy, \( k \) is the spring constant of the wire, and \( \Delta L \) is the elongation of the wire.

3. **Breaking of the Wire**:
- When the wire suddenly breaks, the stored elastic potential energy is released. This release of energy occurs very rapidly.

4. **Conversion to Heat Energy**:
- The elastic potential energy that was stored in the wire is converted into kinetic energy as the wire snaps back to its original length. However, not all of this energy is converted into kinetic energy; a significant portion is transformed into heat energy due to internal friction and deformation of the material.

5. **Temperature Rise**:
- The heat energy generated from the release of the elastic potential energy causes an increase in the temperature of the wire. The temperature rise can be calculated using the specific heat capacity of the material, but the question only asks about the effect on temperature qualitatively.

6. **Conclusion**:
- Therefore, when the wire breaks, the temperature of the wire will rise due to the conversion of the stored elastic potential energy into heat.

### Final Answer:
The temperature of the wire will increase when it suddenly breaks.

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