The storage of radioactive waste is an important problem in the nuclear industry. One problem that scientists must take into account is volumetric expansion.
Consider a 25.0 gallon metal canister of diameter 22.0 inches filled with a radioactive waste possessing a coefficient of volume expansion of 9.60×10−4 (∘C)−1 . This canister will be filled at room temperature ( 23.0 ∘C ) and lowered deep into the Earth (where temperatures can reach 138 ∘C ) for storage. If the coefficient of volume expansion of the metal is 4.10×10−5 (∘C)−1 , how much waste will spill over the top if the lid becomes loose?
