Question

A concrete highway is built of slabs 11 m long (20 ∘C). Part A How wide should the expansion cracks between the slabs be (at 15 ∘C) to prevent buckling if the range of temperature is - 30 ∘C to 50 ∘C? Express your answer using two significant figures.

Answer 1

Answer:

$4.6\times 10^{-3} m$

Explanation:

We are given that

Length of slab=L=11 m

$T_1=15^{\circ}$

$T_2=50^{\circ}$

We have to find the  width of expansion.

We know that by linear expansion

$\Delta L=L\alpha (T_2-T_1)$

Where $\alpha=12\times 10^{-6}/^{\circ} C$

Substitute the values

$\Delta L=11\times 12\times 10^{-6}\times (50-15)=4.62\times 10^{-3} m$

$\Delta L=4.6\times 10^{-3} m$