The Eiffel Tower can stand about 15 centimetres taller in summer than in winter, because its iron expands in the heat.

Structural engineering (thermal expansion)

TechnologyScience

Why it matters

The idea in context

Metals expand slightly as they warm, and the tower's 7,300 tonnes of iron expand enough to lift its tip. In strong sunlight, the heated side grows a little more than the shaded side, so the whole structure leans by a tiny amount. The monument that looks fixed is quietly moving with weather and season.

Türkçe

Aynı kart, başka bir dilde.

Eiffel Kulesi yazın kışa göre yaklaşık 15 santim daha uzun durabilir; çünkü demiri sıcakta genleşir.

Metaller ısındıkça çok az genleşir; kulenin 7.300 tonluk demiri de tepesini yükseltecek kadar genişler. Güçlü güneşte ısınan yüz, gölgede kalan yüzden biraz daha fazla genleştiği için yapı bütünüyle çok küçük bir açıyla eğilir. Sabit görünen anıt, hava ve mevsimle birlikte sessizce hareket eder.

Source trail

Read beyond the card.

Thermal expansion of iron causes the Eiffel Tower to grow ~15 cm in summer heat and lean slightly away from the sun; standard structural-engineering fact.

Background reading: Eiffel TowerAttribution and context are revised when stronger evidence appears. Corrections are welcome through the editorial page.
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