Question

It is anticipated that the temperature in the construction site changes from 0 °C to 33 °C. If one of the components to be installed in the construction sites is a steel member of 600 meters in length, how much expansion should be anticipated?

Answer 1

First, use appropriate tables or reference books to find the coefficient of thermal linear expansion for steel: 12 × 10⁻⁶ /°C.

The temperature change is 33°C. Thus, the anticipated increase of length is

$$L=L_0\cdot\alpha T=\\=600\cdot12\cdot10^{-6}\cdot33=0.24\text{ m}.$$

24 cm is quite a lot.