🔍 Key Concepts

• thermal expansion of metal piston rings and grooves • effects of overheating vs. mechanical wear on ring movement • how combustion deposits or heat can cause rings to seize in grooves

💭 Think About

• Ask which condition would most likely make the ring grow tighter in the groove so it cannot flex and seal properly • Consider whether temperature, motion, or wear would reduce the clearance between the ring and its groove • Think about what happens to metal components and clearances when operating conditions become hotter than designed

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify which choice directly relates to heat or temperature effects on the ring and groove • Check which options would actually increase, not decrease, the ring’s freedom to move in the groove • Eliminate any option that would tend to make the ring looser or give it more clearance rather than sticking