A bridge is made with segments of concrete 50 m long. If the linear expansion coefficient is 12 × 10−6 (°C)−1, how much spacing (in cm) is needed to allow for expansion during an extreme temperature change of 150°F?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

To find the expansion, convert 150°F to Celsius: (150 - 32) × 5/9 = 83.33°C. Use the formula for linear expansion: ΔL = αLΔT. Here, α = 12 × 10−6 (°C)−1, L = 50 m, ΔT = 83.33°C. ΔL = 12 × 10−6 × 50 × 83.33 = 0.05 m = 5 cm.

A Bridge Is Made with Segments of Concrete 50 M