Question

A steel I-beam used in the construction of a bridge is 9.2m long at 20°C. On a hot summer day, the temperature rises to 40°C. What is the change in the beam's length due to linear expansion?

Answer 1

$\Delta L=\alpha L \Delta T,$

$\Delta L=12\cdot 10^{-6}\cdot 9.2\cdot 20=2.2~mm.$