AIIMS 2001 Physics Newton's Law of Cooling MCQ Question

When a solid sphere and a hollow sphere are heated to the same temperature, their cooling rates differ due to their respective heat capacities and mass distributions. The solid sphere has a greater mass concentrated at its center, which allows it to retain heat longer compared to the hollow sphere. The hollow sphere has a larger surface area relative to its volume, leading to a higher rate of heat loss. Therefore, the solid sphere cools more quickly than the hollow sphere. The correct answer is C.

To understand this better, we can refer to Newton's Law of Cooling, which states that the rate of heat loss of a body is proportional to the difference in temperature between the body and its surroundings. Since the solid sphere has a lower surface area to volume ratio, it experiences a smaller rate of heat loss compared to the hollow sphere. Thus, the solid sphere cools more quickly, confirming that option C is correct.