Question

How large an expansion gap should be left between steel railroad rails if they may reach a maximum temperature 36.0°C greater than when they were laid? Their original length is 26.0 m.

Answer 1

11 mm

Step-by-step explanation:

Original length L' = 26 m

Increase in temperature dT = 36.0°C

The gap l =?

The coefficient of linear expansion for steel & = 12 × 10^−6 per °C

The gap will be gotten from the equation of linear expansion.

l = L' x & x dT

substituting, we have

L = 26 x 12 × 10^−6 x 36

L = 0.011 m = 11 mm