Physics

Physics

Problem

A steel measuring tape is calibrated correctly at 20 °C. On a hot afternoon when the temperature is 35 °C, the tape is used to measure the length of a corridor and shows a reading of 500 cm. The coefficient of linear expansion of steel is 1.1×10−5 K−11.1\times10^{-5}\,\text{K}^{-1}. a. (i) Determine the true length of the corridor at 20 °C. b. (ii) Calculate the percentage error introduced by using the tape at 35 °C instead of at its calibration temperature.

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