Quarky Explores Paris
Can a tower really grow taller in summer?
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Quarky is writing this for you...
The story
Quarky measures the Eiffel Tower in winter, comes back in summer, and it is taller. Nothing was added: warm iron's particles jiggle harder and spread out a little, so the whole tower stretches, then shrinks back when it cools. Engineers plan for that stretch on purpose.
What you'll learn
- Heat makes particles move faster and spread apart, so materials expand.
- The Eiffel Tower can grow several centimetres taller on a hot day.
- Bridges and rails have gaps so they can expand without cracking.
- Quarky takeaway: even giant metal things quietly change with the weather.
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