document.write( "Question 1195307: A line was found to be 1500ft was laid out using a 50-ft steel tape under a pull of 12lbs at a mean temperature of 20 degree Celsius. Determine the correct length of the line if the tape used is of standard length at 25°C under a pull of 10 lbs. Assume the cross-sectional area of tape to be 0.003 sq.in, 0.0000116 ft/ °C per as its coefficient of thermal expansion, and 30 x 10° psi as its elastic modulus. \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #848448 by ElectricPavlov(122)![]() ![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! ## Determining the Correct Length of the Line\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "We can solve this problem by considering the following factors that affect the length of the steel tape:\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "1. **Thermal Expansion:** As temperature increases, the steel tape expands. \n" ); document.write( "2. **Tension:** Pulling the tape stretches it slightly.\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "We can use the following steps to find the correct length of the line:\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "**1. Calculate the Change in Length due to Thermal Expansion:**\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "* **Formula:** ΔL_temp = α * L₀ * ΔT \n" ); document.write( " * ΔL_temp: Change in length due to temperature (°ft) \n" ); document.write( " * α: Coefficient of thermal expansion (°ft/°C) \n" ); document.write( " * L₀: Original length of the tape (ft) \n" ); document.write( " * ΔT: Change in temperature (°C)\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "* **Values:** \n" ); document.write( " * α = 0.0000116 ft/°C \n" ); document.write( " * L₀ = 50 ft (assuming the tape is standard length) \n" ); document.write( " * ΔT = 25°C - 20°C = 5°C\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "* **Calculation:** \n" ); document.write( " * ΔL_temp = 0.0000116 ft/°C * 50 ft * 5°C \n" ); document.write( " * ΔL_temp = 0.0029 ft ≈ 0.003 ft (round to 3 decimal places)\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "**2. Calculate the Change in Length due to Tension:**\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "* We need additional information about the relationship between tension and length change for this specific steel tape. \r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "**Here, we can make two assumptions:**\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "**Assumption 1: Linear Relationship**\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "If the relationship between tension (T) and change in length (ΔL_tension) is linear, we can use the following formula:\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "* ΔL_tension = k * (T - T₀) \n" ); document.write( " * k: proportionality constant (ft/lb) representing the change in length per unit change in tension \n" ); document.write( " * T: Applied tension (lb) \n" ); document.write( " * T₀: Reference tension (lb)\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "We don't have the value of k for this specific tape. However, we can acknowledge that a higher tension (12 lbs) will cause a greater change in length compared to the reference tension (assumed to be 10 lbs).\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "**Assumption 2: Information from Manufacturer**\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The manufacturer might provide a table or graph showing the change in length for different tension values. This information can be used to determine ΔL_tension.\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "**3. Apply Corrections to Find the Correct Length:**\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "* Since the thermal expansion increases the length and the tension might decrease the length (depending on the tension-length relationship), we can assume a net **decrease** in length.\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "* **Correct Length (L_correct):** \n" ); document.write( " * L_correct = L₀ - ΔL_temp - ΔL_tension\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "* **Note:** Due to the lack of information about ΔL_tension, we cannot calculate the exact correct length.\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "**Conclusion:**\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "* Based on the available information, we can determine that the steel tape likely experienced a slight **decrease** in length due to thermal expansion (0.003 ft). \n" ); document.write( "* The tension might have caused a further decrease in length, but the magnitude is unknown without additional information.\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Therefore, the actual length of the line (L_correct) is likely **shorter** than the measured length (1500 ft) by an unknown amount. \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " |