If the temperature increases by 60F, how much expansion per 100 ft?

If the temperature increases by 60F, how much expansion per 100 ft?

• A. 1/4 inch
• B. 3/8 inch
• C. 1/2 inch
• D. 1 inch

Answer: (C)

Steel expands when heated because its atoms move apart more with higher temperature. The amount of expansion is given by ΔL = α L ΔT, where α is the linear coefficient of thermal expansion for steel (about 6.5 x 10^-6 per degree Fahrenheit). For 100 ft of steel and a 60°F rise, ΔL = 6.5e-6 × 100 × 60 = 0.039 ft. Convert to inches: 0.039 ft × 12 = 0.468 inches, which is about 0.47 inches—roughly 1/2 inch. So the expansion per 100 ft is about half an inch.

Steel expands when heated because its atoms move apart more with higher temperature. The amount of expansion is given by ΔL = α L ΔT, where α is the linear coefficient of thermal expansion for steel (about 6.5 x 10^-6 per degree Fahrenheit). For 100 ft of steel and a 60°F rise, ΔL = 6.5e-6 × 100 × 60 = 0.039 ft. Convert to inches: 0.039 ft × 12 = 0.468 inches, which is about 0.47 inches—roughly 1/2 inch. So the expansion per 100 ft is about half an inch.