Question

Before the 1950s, US railroad tracks were laid with 2 inch (5cm) gaps between segments that were 100 yards (91 m) long. If the track was laid on a day when the temperature was about 4°C, would these gaps be enough to keep the track from buckling on hot days, where the temperature reached 54°C?   In other words, how much does 91m of track expand with a temperature difference of 50°C? Is it less than 5cm? If it is more than 5cm then the track would buckle.

Answer 1

Coefficient of linear expansion of steel ( used for rail tracks)

Initial length of rail tracks

Final length of rail tracks

Expansion of track is

Distance between the segments is which is less than , so the tracks would not buckle.