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utkarshakash
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Homework Statement
A metal rod of length L at temperature of 0°C is not uniformly heated such that the temperature is given by the distance x along its length measured from one end when:
[itex]T(x) = T_0 \sin (\pi x/L) [/itex]
Accordingly, points at x = 0 and x = L are also zero temperature, whereas at x = L/2, where the argument of sine function is π/2, the temperature have the maximum value T0. The coefficient of linear expansion of the rod is α. Find the increase in the length of the rod in function of α and T0.
The Attempt at a Solution
Let us consider a differential element dx at a distance x from one end of the rod.
[itex]Δ(dx) = dx \alpha dT \\
ΔL = \alpha T_0 \displaystyle \int_0^L \cos \left( \dfrac{\pi x}{L} \right) dx [/itex]
But the above equation gives me 0!
I know something's going wrong here.