Answer:
23
21.7391304348 m
Explanation:
L = Initial length = 500 m
[tex]\Delta T[/tex] = Change in temperature = 40-(-35)
[tex]\alpha[/tex] = Coefficient of thermal expansion = [tex]12\times 10^{-6}\ /^{\circ}C[/tex]
Change in length is given by
[tex]\Delta L=L\alpha \Delta T\\\Rightarrow \Delta L=500\times 12\times 10^{-6}\times (40-(-35))\\\Rightarrow \Delta L=0.45\ m[/tex]
The change in length is 0.45 m
The number of joints would be
[tex]n=\dfrac{0.45}{0.02}\\\Rightarrow n=22.5\\\Rightarrow n\approx 23[/tex]
The number of joints is 23
Each bridge section length would be
[tex]\dfrac{L}{n}=\dfrac{500}{23}=21.7391304348\ m[/tex]
The length of each bridge section would be 21.7391304348 m