An iron rod, when it is heated, expands. This is because the distance between the iron atoms in the rod is set by an effective potential that is roughly U-shaped. When the iron atoms are cold, they settle down into the bottom of the U and have a fixed distance to their neighbor. When the iron is hot, the thermal motions allow the atoms to "jiggle" and get a bit further apart, on average, then they do when they're cold.
An iron road? One interesting question is, what happens to welded railroad track in hot weather? The answer is, that it doesn't expand, it simply builds up compressive stresses that keep it the same length, even though its unstressed lenght would be longer.
2006-10-02 03:43:58
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answer #1
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answered by cosmo 7
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upon being heated iron roads will firstly expand:
this is becasue the atoms have enough energy to slightly overcome the bonds that normally hold them into such a rigid structure, thus they move appart more - atoms dont really like being next to each other
also it will become more magliable, this si becasue the atoms are not so tightly bonded and can now move over each other eaier, thus ytou can bend, twist and stretch metal, without seriously damaging its strenght
when ti get really hot and while it cools down it will glow, oridonally white, then yellow, then orange, then red this is becuase the electrons are falling back into thier shells that they managed to escape fro whent hey were given sufficent energy - heated - to celebrate this they let out some energy, the more shells they fall - the more energy they had- the brighter the colour
hope this solves your problem
2006-10-02 16:37:38
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answer #2
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answered by prof. Jack 3
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Iron road? It will just get hot or warm since you are applying heta to it and it will absorb that heat. But if you get to it melting point it will melt and burn through whatever is under it if the thing under it is vulnerable enough. But suggest you don't do that unless you don't like somebody and they are driving on that iron road. And yes, whatever on it might melt also if the heat reaches its melting point.
2006-10-02 10:40:10
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answer #3
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answered by t_nguyen62791 3
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As an objectis heated it expands.
Next time you go over a large bridge notice that there is a section that looks like teeth fitting together. This is to allow for the expansion of the bridge.
2006-10-02 10:42:57
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answer #4
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answered by The Cheminator 5
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