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Physics-Thermal Expansion?

The equatorial radius of the earth is about 6370 km. Consider a 40,024-km long steel pipe that forms a giant ring that fits snugly around the equator of the earth. Suppose people all around its length breathe on it as to raise its temperature 1 degree Celsius. The pipe gets longer. It is also no longer snug. How high does it stand above the ground? (Hint: concentrate on the radial distance)

1 Answer

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  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    You'll need to look up the coefficient of expansion of steel, but here's how to get the answer from there:

    You know that deltaL = (coef expansion)*(40,024km), where deltaL is the change in length

    You should note that since L is the circumference of the earth:

    L = 2*pi*R or R = L/2*pi, where R is the radius of the earth,

    So deltaR = deltaL/(2*pi).

    deltaR is the change in height.

    Hope this helps.

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