Given:
temperature at which the rod is measured= 25°
length of aluminium rod measured at 25°C= 1 meter
temperature at which the scale is correct= 0°C
Linear expansivity of steel= 12* 10^-6
linear expansivity of aluminum= 26* 10^-6
To find:
True length of rod at 25°C
Length of rod at 0°C
Solution:
Let the length of the aluminum and steel rod at 0°C be L0A and L0S respectively.
Length of the steel scale at 25°C , thermal expansion is:
LA25 = LA0(1+ (αS - αA)25)
LA0 = LA25/ (1+ (αS-αA)t)
LA0 = 100/ (1+ (12*10^-6 - 26*10^-6)25)
LA0 ≈ 100.05 cm at 0°C
2. Let the length at 25°C of the aluminium trod be LA25
The actual measure of aluminum rod at 25°C, will be
LA25 = 100 * (1+ 26* 10^-6*25)
LA25 ≈ 100.06 cm