A steel section of the Alaskan pipeline had a length of 56.5 m and a temperature of 24.7 °C when it was installed. What is its change in length when the temperature drops to a frigid - 43.1 °C?

Change in length=0.0275 m.

Explanation:

Given that

Length L = 56.5 m

Initial temperature, T₁ = 24.7⁰C

Final temperature, T₂ = - 43.1 ⁰C

Coefficient of thermal expansion for steel taken as

α = 7.2 x 10⁻⁶ / ⁰C

We know that change in the length due to change in the temperature given as

ΔL = Lα ΔT

ΔL = 56.5 x 7.2 x 10⁻⁶ x (-43.1 - 24.7) m

ΔL = - 27581.04 x 10⁻⁶ m

ΔL = - 0.0275 m

Therefore the length of the steel get reduce by 0.0275 m.

The change in the length will be 0.0275 m.