The Concorde's exterior is made of aluminum, which has a coefficient of linear expansion of 24 × 10^-6 K^-1. At 15°C, the Concorde measures 62.1 m in length. When the plane is in flight, friction with the air increases the temperature of the exterior skin to 200°C. What is the change in the length of the outer skin of the Concorde?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The formula for linear expansion is:

ΔL = αLΔT

where ΔL is the change in length, α is the coefficient of linear expansion, L is the original length, and ΔT is the change in temperature.

Substituting the given values:

ΔL = (24 × 10^-6) × (62.1) × (200 - 15)
ΔL = 0.0280446 m
ΔL = 28 cm (to the nearest cm)

Therefore, the answer is C) 28 cm.

The Concorde's Exterior Is Made of Aluminum, Which Has a Coefficient