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my work is at the end of the ques. but i get the answer wrong?
Concrete sidewalks are always laid in sections, with gaps between each section. For example, the drawing shows three identical 2.4-m sections, the outer two of which are against immovable walls. The two identical gaps between the sections are provided so that thermal expansion will not create the thermal stress that could lead to cracks. What is the minimum gap width necessary to account for an increase in temperature of 38° C? (See Table 12.1 for appropriate constants
K=7.4e-13
L=7.4e-13x2.4x38°=.0010944
.0010944x(3/2)=.0016416m
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3 Answers
- Steve4PhysicsLv 76 years ago
There are 2 major mistakes.
No way is the coefficient of linear expansion of concrete 7.4e-13 (and you forgot the units!).
A typical value is 1.45e-5 ⁰C⁻¹
And no way is 7.4e-13x2.4x38°=0.0010944 (and you forgot the units!)
It comes to 6.75e-11 m.
______________________________
Using 1.45e-5 ⁰C⁻¹ for the coefficient of linear expansion:
Each block expands an amount d:
d = 1.45e-5 ⁰C⁻¹ x 2.4 x 38°= 0.00132m
Call each gap size G. So the total amount of allowed expansion is 2G as there are 2 gaps,
Each block expands by an amount 0.00132m. Since there are 3 blocks:
3 x 0.00132 = 2G
G =(3/2) x 0.00132 = 2.0e-3m (=2mm)
The official answer may be slightly different depending on what value is used for the coefficient of linear expansion of concrete.
- Barry GLv 76 years ago
If K is the linear expansion coefficient for concrete, it is much too small. It should be on the order of e-6 not e-13. Perhaps you have looked up the wrong data.
Apart from the above mistake, your calculation of the expansion
∆L=7.4e-13x2.4x38°=.0010944
.0010944x(3/2)=.0016416m
uses the correct method, but your arithmetic is wrong, it should be 1.0e-10m.
Your answer should be quoted to 2 sig figs, the same as 2.4. 7.4 and 38.
- peterpanLv 76 years ago
ΔL=kLΔT
ΔL=7.4e^-13*2.4*38 =1.525 mm
the distance X between the walls is
X=3L+3ΔL
it must be
X=3L+2x
then
gap is
x=3/2ΔL = 2.288 mm