Did you notice the small gaps in your sidewalk?
These aren’t just random spaces! They play an important role in something called thermal expansion.
Definition: Thermal expansion is when materials get bigger when they are heated and shrink when they are cooled.
Example: For instance, when the sun shines on the sidewalk, the concrete expands or gets bigger.
Purpose of the Gaps: These gaps let the sidewalk expand without cracking.
How It Works: There’s a simple way to understand how much something will expand.
When we want to know how much the length changes, we can look at this formula:
These gaps are super important for keeping your sidewalk strong and lasting longer!
Did you notice the small gaps in your sidewalk?
These aren’t just random spaces! They play an important role in something called thermal expansion.
Definition: Thermal expansion is when materials get bigger when they are heated and shrink when they are cooled.
Example: For instance, when the sun shines on the sidewalk, the concrete expands or gets bigger.
Purpose of the Gaps: These gaps let the sidewalk expand without cracking.
How It Works: There’s a simple way to understand how much something will expand.
When we want to know how much the length changes, we can look at this formula:
These gaps are super important for keeping your sidewalk strong and lasting longer!