Answer:
y = 2.74 m
Explanation:
The linear thermal expansion processes are described by the expression
ΔL = α L ΔT
Where α the thermal dilation constant for concrete is 12 10⁻⁶ºC⁻¹, ΔL is the length variation and ΔT the temperature variation in this case 20ªc
If the bridge is 250 m long and is covered by two sections each of them must be L = 125 m, let's calculate the variation in length
ΔL = 12 10⁻⁶ 125 20
ΔL = 3.0 10⁻² m
Let's use trigonometry to find the height
The hypotenuse Lf = 125 + 0.03 = 125.03 m
Adjacent leg L₀ = 125 m
cos θ = L₀ / Lf
θ = cos⁻¹ (L₀ / Lf)
θ = cos⁻¹ (125 / 125.03)
θ = 1,255º
We calculate the height
tan 1,255 = y / x
y = x tan 1,255
y = 125 tan 1,255
y = 2.74 m
