A steel rod of length 1.0000 m and cross-sectional area 3.63·10-4m2 is placed snugly against two immobile end points. The rod is initially placed when the temperature is 0°C. Find the stress in the rod when the temperature rises to 38.9°C.

Answer 1

Thermal expansion equals stress compression. Solve for the stress, sigma.

L*(alpha)*(delta T) = (sigma/E)*L

sigma = E*(alpha)*(deltaT)

E is Young's modulus for steel
delta T = 38.9 C

alpha is the linear coefficient of thermal expansionm of styel
L cancels out and is not needed.