Eight metallic balls of one centimetre radius each are melted into one

Eight metallic balls of one centimetre radius each are melted into one ball. The diameter of the new ball is

2 cm
6 cm
4 cm
1 cm
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2021
When eight metallic balls of 1 cm radius each are melted into one ball, the diameter of the new ball is 4 cm.
– The volume of a sphere with radius ‘r’ is given by the formula V = (4/3)πr³.
– The volume of each small ball (radius r=1 cm) is V_small = (4/3)π(1)³ = (4/3)π cubic cm.
– When 8 such balls are melted, the total volume of metal is the sum of their volumes: Total Volume = 8 * V_small = 8 * (4/3)π cubic cm.
– This total volume is melted into a single new ball. Let the radius of the new ball be R. Its volume is V_new = (4/3)πR³.
– Equating the volumes: (4/3)πR³ = 8 * (4/3)π.
– Cancelling (4/3)π from both sides: R³ = 8.
– Taking the cube root: R = ³√8 = 2 cm.
– The question asks for the diameter of the new ball, which is twice the radius: Diameter = 2 * R = 2 * 2 cm = 4 cm.
When a substance is melted and recast, its volume remains conserved (assuming no loss of material in the process). This principle is fundamental in solving such mensuration problems involving volume changes.