Change in length due to temperature

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the change in length of a steel rod due to temperature variations, particularly in the context of its interaction with an aluminum rod. Participants are examining the implications of thermal expansion and contraction, as well as the associated stress and strain in the materials involved.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are attempting to clarify the meanings of various symbols related to thermal expansion, such as δA and δT(st). There are questions about the relationship between the observed contraction in the steel rod and the theoretical contraction due to temperature changes. Some participants express confusion over the role of the aluminum rod in affecting the steel rod's contraction.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring different interpretations of the equations and diagrams presented. Some have offered insights into the mechanics of how the aluminum rod influences the behavior of the steel rod, while others are seeking further clarification on specific points, indicating a productive exchange of ideas.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working within the constraints of a homework assignment, which may limit the information available for discussion. There is an emphasis on understanding the underlying physics rather than arriving at a definitive solution.

  • #31
chetzread said:
tension
Right. So, even though it is a little shorter, it is in tension. In your problem, even though the steel bar is shorter, it is in tension.
 
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  • #32
Chestermiller said:
Right. So, even though it is a little shorter, it is in tension. In your problem, even though the steel bar is shorter, it is in tension.
You mean pull the contracted steel , the force is tension?
So, how does it relate to the question I asked?
 
  • #33
chetzread said:
You mean pull the contracted steel , the force is tension?
Yes.
chetzread said:
do you mean in $$\sigma_s=E_s(\epsilon_s-\alpha_s \Delta T)\tag{key}$$
Yes.
, εs is negative(due to contraction) , and -σsΔT has positive value (-σs(-T) =positive) , so σs has positive value?
Yes.
So, how does it relate to the question I asked?
The answer to your question is Yes.
 
  • #34
Chestermiller said:
Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

The answer to your question is Yes.

so, σs=Es(-ϵs+αsΔT)​
where
αsΔT >ϵs , so σs = positive?
 
  • #35
chetzread said:
so, σs=Es(-ϵs+αsΔT)​
where
αsΔT >ϵs , so σs = positive?
No. The equation I gave is correct.
 
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  • #36
Chestermiller said:
No. The equation I gave is correct.
I refer to the question that i posted in post#1, the steel contracted,
original equation is
$$\sigma_s=E_s(\epsilon_s-\alpha_s \Delta T)$$

so, εs is negative(due to contraction) , and -σsΔT has positive value (-σs(-T) =positive) , so σs has positive value?
thus, leading the equation to become
σs=Es(-ϵs+αsΔT) ?
 
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  • #37
chetzread said:
I refer to the question that i posted in post#1, the steel contracted,
original equation is
$$\sigma_s=E_s(\epsilon_s-\alpha_s \Delta T)\$$

so, εs is negative(due to contraction) , and -σsΔT has positive value (-σs(-T) =positive) , so σs has positive value?
thus, leading the equation to become
σs=Es(-ϵs+αsΔT) ?
You need to brush up on algebra.
 
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  • #38
Chestermiller said:
You need to brush up on algebra.
Which part is wrong?
 
  • #39
haruspex said:
It's the contraction that would have occurred due to temperature if the aluminium rod were not there.

δA is the observed contraction in the steel. δst is the discrepancy
between the two.
But I do not understand what the diagram shows at C. It's a bit fuzzy, but it looks like it says the expansion of the aluminium rod
equals the observed contraction of the steel
rod. That is clearly not the case.
So, the change in length that we can notice is del (A) ? del (st) is the constraint?
 
  • #40
chetzread said:
Which part is wrong?
The equation as I wrote it is correct and the equation as you wrote it is incorrect. If ##\Delta T=0##, your equation predicts that ##\sigma=-E\epsilon##. Does that make sense to you?
 
  • #41
chetzread said:
del (st) is the constraint?
I would not have called it a constraint. That is not quite the right word. You could say the constraint is that the horizontal bar remains straight and attached to the two rods.
Del(st) is a consequence of that constraint. Another consequence is the stretching of the aluminium rod.

It might help to think of the process in three stages:
  1. The steel rod is cooled with no aluminium rod present. It contracts by δT(st). It is not under any tension or compression. Correspondingly, the horizontal bar rotates clockwise a bit.
  2. The aluminium rod is now to be attached to the bar, but because the bar has rotated it is not quite long enough. The bar is forcibly rotated back to the horizontal so that the aluminium rod can be attached. What has happened to the steel rod?
  3. The bar is now released. What will happen to the bar and each rod?
 
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  • #42
haruspex said:
What has happened to the steel rod?
The steel rod extend so that the bar can be rotated back to it's original condition...
haruspex said:
The bar is now released. What will happen to the bar and each rod?
Steel rod shorten, aluminum rod extend?
haruspex said:
The bar is forcibly rotated back to
the horizontal so that the aluminium rod can be attached
Do you mean, the aluminium will tried to pull the bar back to it's horizontal conditions, but the bar may not be perfectly horizontal as before rotation?
 
  • #43
Chestermiller said:
The equation as I wrote it is correct and the equation as you wrote it is incorrect. If ##\Delta T=0##, your equation predicts that ##\sigma=-E\epsilon##. Does that make sense to you?
no . But , how does the equation you wrote relate to the question i asked in post #1?
$$\sigma_s=E_s(\epsilon_s-\alpha_s \Delta T)$$
to get σs = positive , ϵs must be > αsΔT ,
But , in the picture in the notes , i noticed that the change due to temperature (αsΔT or ∂ T(st) ) is more than ϵs(∂ A) , how can the equation given by you true ?
 
  • #44
chetzread said:
no . But , how does the equation you wrote relate to the question i asked in post #1?
$$\sigma_s=E_s(\epsilon_s-\alpha_s \Delta T)$$
to get σs = positive , ϵs must be > αsΔT ,
What if ##\alpha_s\Delta T## is negative, and ##\epsilon_s## is also negative, but smaller in absolute magnitude than ##\alpha_s\Delta T##? Then, under these circumstances, ##\epsilon_s>\alpha_s\Delta T##, and ##\sigma>0##
But , in the picture in the notes , i noticed that the change due to temperature (αsΔT or ∂ T(st) ) is more than ϵs(∂ A) , how can the equation given by you true ?
Look at the picture again...carefully.
 
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  • #45
Chestermiller said:
What if αsΔT\alpha_s\Delta T is negative, and ϵs\epsilon_s is also negative, but smaller in absolute magnitude than αsΔT\alpha_s\Delta T? Then, under these circumstances, ϵs>αsΔT\epsilon_s>\alpha_s\Delta T, and σ>0
Let ϵs = -3 , αsΔT = -6 , so
$$\sigma_s=E_s(\epsilon_s-\alpha_s \Delta T) = Es(-3-(-6) ) = +3 $$
so , we can rewrite the equation as $$\sigma_s=E_s(\-epsilon_s+\alpha_s \Delta T)$$ , am i right ?
 
  • #46
Chestermiller said:
Look at the picture again.
can you explain further ?
 
  • #47
chetzread said:
Let ϵs = -3 , αsΔT = -6 , so
$$\sigma_s=E_s(\epsilon_s-\alpha_s \Delta T) = Es(-3-(-6) ) = +3 $$
so , we can rewrite the equation as $$\sigma_s=E_s(\-epsilon_s+\alpha_s \Delta T)$$ , am i right ?
No. This is algebraically incorrect.
 
  • #48
chetzread said:
can you explain further ?
Whichever of the dotted lines you look at, the decrease in length of the steel rod is half the increase in length of the aluminum rod.
 
  • #49
Chestermiller said:
No. This is algebraically incorrect.
What if ##\alpha_s\Delta T## is negative, and ##\epsilon_s## is also negative, but smaller in absolute magnitude than ##\alpha_s\Delta T##?
 
  • #50
chetzread said:
The steel rod extend so that the bar can be rotated back to it's original condition
Yes. Is it now under compression, under tension, or neutral?
chetzread said:
Steel rod shorten, aluminum rod extend?
Yes.
chetzread said:
Do you mean, the aluminium will tried to pull the bar back to it's horizontal conditions, but the bar may not be perfectly horizontal as before rotation?
yes. So, for each rod, is it now under compression, under tension, or neutral?
 
  • #51
haruspex said:
Yes. Is it now under compression, under tension, or neutral?

Yes.
yes. So, for each rod, is it now under compression, under tension, or neutral?
tension , am i right ?
 
  • #52
chetzread said:
What if ##\alpha_s\Delta T## is negative, and ##\epsilon_s## is also negative, but smaller in absolute magnitude than ##\alpha_s\Delta T##?
Then your arithmetic in post 47 is correct, but your final equation is incorrect, and inconsistent with your previous arithmetic.
 
  • #53
Chestermiller said:
Then your arithmetic in post 47 is correct, but your final equation is incorrect, and inconsistent with your previous arithmetic.
why not ? i still couldn't get it
 
  • #54
chetzread said:
why not ? i still couldn't get it
You can't have it both ways: $$\sigma_s=E_s(\epsilon_s-\alpha_s \Delta T) $$and$$\sigma_s=E_s(-\epsilon_s+\alpha_s \Delta T) $$ because the two equations produce opposite results for ##\sigma_s##. Try substituting ##\epsilon_s=-3## and ##\alpha_s \Delta T=-6## into the equation that you wrote, and tell me what you get.
 
  • #55
chetzread said:
tension , am i right ?
Yes.
 
  • #56
haruspex said:
Yes.
so ?
 
  • #57
Chestermiller said:
You can't have it both ways: $$\sigma_s=E_s(\epsilon_s-\alpha_s \Delta T) $$and$$\sigma_s=E_s(-\epsilon_s+\alpha_s \Delta T) $$ because the two equations produce opposite results for ##\sigma_s##. Try substituting ##\epsilon_s=-3## and ##\alpha_s \Delta T=-6## into the equation that you wrote, and tell me what you get.
But , in the figure in post # 1 , we could see that $$\alpha_s\Delta T$$ > ϵs , this doesn't match with the equation that given by you
 
  • #58
chetzread said:
But , in the figure in post # 1 , we could see that $$\alpha_s\Delta T$$ > ϵs , this doesn't match with the equation that given by you
How can you see that from the figure? It doesn't show these two quantities separately. Besides, which of the two equations gives tension for ##\sigma_s##, yours or mine? You yourself said that it has to be in tension.
 
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  • #59
Chestermiller said:
How can you see that from the figure? It doesn't show these two quantities separately. Besides, which of the two equations gives tension for ##\sigma_s##, yours or mine? You yourself said that it has to be in tension.
it 's not i said . It's in figure , refer to green circle
 

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  • #60
haruspex said:
Yes.
what are you trying to say ?
 

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