Lengths of railway tracks have small gaps between them. Why are they built this way and what might happen if there were no gaps
Railway tracks are built with small gaps between them for a couple of reasons. The primary reason is to allow for expansion and contraction of the metal rails due to temperature changes. When the temperature rises, the metal rails expand, and when it drops, they contract. If the rails were installed tightly against each other, without any gaps, there would be no room for expansion, leading to buckling or bending of the rails.
When the tracks expand, the gaps between the rails accommodate the extra length of the rails by allowing them to move slightly. This prevents warping, distortion, or breaking of the metal rails, ensuring the safe passage of trains. On the other hand, when the rails contract due to cold temperatures, the gaps allow for movement, preventing the rails from compressing against each other and causing unwanted stresses.
If there were no gaps between the railway tracks, several issues could arise. Firstly, during hot weather conditions, the rails would expand but have nowhere to move, resulting in buckling or bending. This can lead to derailments, accidents, and damage to the tracks and trains. Secondly, if the tracks were tightly joined without gaps, any contraction due to cold weather could cause the rails to compress against each other, leading to stress-related issues such as cracks, breakages, or even track failure.
Therefore, the small gaps between railway tracks are crucial for maintaining the safety and integrity of the rail system by accommodating the natural expansion and contraction of the metal rails with changing temperatures.