The ends of the two rods shown in the figure are separated by 2.97 mm at 24.3 °C. The left-hand rod is brass and 1.21 m long; the right-hand rod is steel and 1.21 m long. Assuming that the outside ends of both rods rest firmly against rigid supports, at what temperature will the ends of the rods that face each other just touch?

Question

Use the following values of linear expansion coefficients for this problem:
αbrass=19*10^−6/°C
αsteel=13*10^−6/°C

Answer 1

total distance= db+ ds

db=1.21*alphabrass*deltatemp
ds=1.21*alphasteel*deltatemp

and total distance=.00297m

solve for delta temp, then add that to 24.3C.