Question

A steel bridge is 1000 m long at -20°C in winter. What is the change in length when the temperature rises to 40°C in summer? The average coefficient of linear expansion of this steel is 11 × 10-6 C-1.

Answer 1

ΔL = 0.66 m

Step-by-step explanation:

The change in length on an object due to rise in temperature is given by the following equation of linear thermal expansion:

ΔL = αLΔT

where,

ΔL = Change in Length of the bridge = ?

α = Coefficient of linear thermal expansion = 11 x 10⁻⁶ °C⁻¹

L = Original Length of the Bridge = 1000 m

ΔT = Change in Temperature = Final Temperature - Initial Temperature

ΔT = 40°C - (-20°C) = 60°C

Therefore,

ΔL = (11 x 10⁻⁶ °C⁻¹)(1000 m)(60°C)

ΔL = 0.66 m