Slight bends at various angles depending on the sun's movement
"So subtle that it is hardly perceptible"
It has been revealed that the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, may experience a deformation of about 20 centimeters due to extreme heat. This phenomenon occurs because one side of the tower expands under the sun's heat during the day, causing a slight bend.
On June 30 (local time), the daily newspaper Le Parisien reported, "As a steel structure, the Eiffel Tower bends slightly at various angles throughout the day depending on the movement of the sun."
French historian and architect Bertrand Lemoine explained in a past media interview, "This happens because the side exposed to the sun expands, while the side in the shade contracts." He added, "The part facing the sun expands more, which causes the tower to bend."
He noted, "This is so subtle and gradual that it is difficult to perceive," and explained that the tower returns to its original position at night as the temperature drops. This phenomenon is known as thermal expansion: when pressure remains constant, the volume of an object increases as the temperature rises and decreases as the temperature falls.
The media outlet also explained, "In the case of the Eiffel Tower, which is made of steel that is highly sensitive to heat, it can shrink by up to 10 centimeters in winter, which is the opposite of what happens in summer."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
