If mercury is kept in a glass vessel and in a copper vessel separately, will the coefficient of apparent expansion in both cases be the same ? If not, in which case will it be greater ? Coefficients of volume expansion of glass and copper are `25 times 10^(-6@)C^(-1) " and " 50 times 10^(-6@)C^(-1)` respectively.

Explanation

The coefficient of apparent expansion of mercury in a glass vessel will not have the same value as in a copper vessel.
The coefficient of apparent expansion = the coefficient of real expansion - the coefficient of volume expansion of the material of the container. The value of coefficient of real expansion of a liquid is fixed. So, coefficients of apparent expansion obtained in the two cases are
`" "gamma_("apparent")=gamma-gamma_("glass"),` when glass is used,
and `gamma^(.)""_(apparent)=gamma-gamma_(copper)`, when copper vesel is used.
Here, `gamma_(copper) gt gamma_(glass), gamma_(apparent) gt gamma^(.)""_(apparent).`
Therefore, the coefficient of apparent expansion of mercury in a glass vessel will be higher than that in a copper vessel.