Consider an expanding sphere of instantaneous radius whose total mass remains constant. The expansion is such that the instantaneous density remains uniform throughout the volume. The rate of fractional change in density is constant. The velocity of any point on the surface of the expanding sphere is proportional to
Answer: A.
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Written solution
Step 1: Express the total mass of the sphere.
The total mass of a uniform sphere of radius and density is the product of its volume and density.
Step 2: Differentiate the mass equation with respect to time.
Since the total mass remains constant, its time derivative is zero.
Applying the product rule to differentiate the mass expression yields:
Step 3: Simplify the differentiated equation.
Divide the equation by the total mass .
Step 4: Substitute the velocity and the fractional change in density.
The velocity of a point on the surface is , and the fractional change in density is a constant .
Substitute these terms into the simplified equation.
Step 5: Determine the proportionality of the velocity.
Solve the equation for the velocity .
Since is a constant, the velocity is directly proportional to the radius.
Answer: Proportional to