Question

A concrete highway is built of slabs 11 m long (20 ∘C). Part A How wide should the expansion cracks between the slabs be (at 15 ∘C) to prevent buckling if the range of temperature is - 30 ∘C to 50 ∘C? Express your answer using two significant figures.

Answer 1

`4.6* 10^(-3) m`

Step-by-step explanation:

We are given that

Length of slab=L=11 m

`T_1=15^(\circ)`

`T_2=50^(\circ)`

We have to find the width of expansion.

We know that by linear expansion

`\Delta L=L\alpha (T_2-T_1)`

Where
`\alpha=12* 10^(-6)/^(\circ) C`

Substitute the values

`\Delta L=11* 12* 10^(-6)* (50-15)=4.62* 10^(-3) m`

`\Delta L=4.6* 10^(-3) m`