Answer:
When you heat a metal ring with a small gap, the size of the gap will increase.
Explanation:
Thermal Expansion: When metals are heated, they expand due to the increase in the kinetic energy of their atoms. This expansion happens uniformly in all directions.
Effect on the Gap: As the ring expands, every part of it, including the material around the gap, will expand outward. Since the entire ring expands, the gap will also expand. Imagine the ring as a whole getting larger; this includes the material on either side of the gap moving apart.