Jesliann Torres Diaz

9-03

Is the Eiffel tower taller in summer than in winter?

Ms. Crystal Martinez Pedraza

Index:

introduction Page 3
background Pages 3-5
problem Page 5
hypothesis Pages 5-6
method Page 6
data collected and analysis Page 6
conclusion Page 7
references Page 7
Introduction:
This investigative work is about the Eiffel tower and its measures with different seasons and
temperatures. Its purpose is to inform those who had the same doubt or curiosity as I did about
this topic before researching this information.

Background:
Main figures

Current height 1063 feet

Original height without the antennas 1024 feet

Total width 410 feet (on the ground)

Width of a pillar 82 feet (on the ground)

First floor 187 feet, 14,485 square feet

Second floor 377 feet, 4,692 square feet

Third floor 906 feet, 820 square feet

Lifts 5 lifts from the esplanade to second floor, 2 x 2 duo lifts from second floor to the top

Weight of the metal frame 7,300 tons

Total weight 10,100 tons

Number of rivets used 2,500,000

Number of iron parts 18,038

Pillars The 4 pillars form a 410 square feet sideways square

The world's tallest tower for 42 years

When it was inaugurated for the Paris World's Fair on March 31, 1889, the Eiffel Tower,
originally called "The 300-meter Tower," had a total height of 312 meters, making it the tallest
tower in the world! It proudly held that title until 1931. That year, it was dethroned by the
Empire State Building (381 meters).

Since then, the Eiffel Tower has continued to grow and today measures 324 meters including
the antennas that were successively added at the summit, in 1957 and 2000, to broadcast radio
and television. And it may not be over yet...

A few centimeters gained in summer, but lost in winter!

One of the reasons the Eiffel Tower is still as dazzling as ever is because it adapts to its
environment and all types of weather conditions: wind, cold, rain, snow, frost, heat, etc. Like
any metal, puddled iron is sensitive to variations in temperature and so reacts to high
temperatures in summer and low or even negative temperatures in winter.

When temperatures rise, the Tower increases in size! This is a natural physical phenomenon
called thermal expansion. Heat causes an increase in volume that makes the Eiffel Tower a few
centimeters taller. This expansion also causes the Tower to tilt slightly away from the sun. The
sun only hits one of the 4 sides of the Tower creating an imbalance with the other 3 sides, that
remain stable, thus causing the Eiffel Tower to lean. In this way, the sun’s movement over the
course of a clear day can cause the top of the Tower to move in a more or less circular curve
measuring approximately 15 centimeters in diameter.

Conversely, when cold winter weather arrives, the metal structure contracts and it can lose a
few centimeters as well!
Suffice it to say that these changes are natural and infinitesimal and have no impact on the
robustness of the structure. They are also absolutely imperceptible to visitors and observers.
On the other hand, high winds can cause it to wobble or vibrate somewhat, without damaging
the structure. Because the engineers at Eiffel’s company had 20 years experience designing
metal viaducts, the Tower was truly (with its curved shapes and edges) designed to minimize
wind resistance! But of course, when the wind exceeds certain limits we close the top floor, or
even the whole Tower, to protect the public and our staff from the risks posed by turbulent
weather conditions.

Eiffel Tower gets taller by 6 inches in summer

short by Sumedha Sehra / 10:23 pm on 16 Jun 2016, Thursday

The Eiffel Tower gets taller by up to 6 inches during the summer, when the temperature
reaches as high as 40°C. Extreme heat causes the metal at the base to expand, increasing the
height of the 300-metre-tall tower. It also causes the top of the tower to tilt away from the sun
by up to 7 inches.

Problem:
Is the Eiffel tower taller in summer than in winter?

Hypothesis:
I think that it could be a possibility that the Eiffel tower could grow a few centimeters or even
inches in summer and eventually lose it all by winter. This is because metal expands when
heated and in summer the temperatures are higher than in winter. But there could also be a
probability that the Eiffel tower could be made of a type of metal that lacks expansion or
contraction with temperature changes. So, I think that it all depends on the material the Eiffel
tower is made of, but I do think that the possibilities of it expanding in summer are higher than
the ones of it not expanding.

Method:
First, I searched on the internet what the original height of the Eiffel tower is. After that, I
researched what the height of the Eiffel tower usually is in summer and winter. Then I did some
research on what type of metal the Eiffel tower is made of. Lastly, I researched why these
changes happen and what causes them.

Data collected and analysis:

The original height of the Eiffel tower is 1,024ft without the antennas. The Eiffel tower can get
up to 6 or 7 inches taller during the summer which makes the Eiffel tower about 1,024.5 ft tall.
In winter the temperature drops, and the Eiffel tower eventually loses the extra inches and goes
back to normal depending on the weather. The Eiffel tower is made of a material called puddled
iron. This type of metal is sensitive to variations in temperature. It allows the Eiffel tower to
adapt to its environment and all types of weather conditions which is why the Eiffel tower
expands during summer and contracts during winter. Wind, cold, rain, snow, frost, heat, etc.
are some examples of types of weather that the Eiffel tower can adapt to thanks to the material
it’s made of. The natural physical phenomenon called thermal expansion also causes changes in
this structure’s measurements.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the Eiffel tower is in fact taller in summer than in winter. This is because of the
adaptation of the Eiffel tower to weather conditions and because of thermal expansion.

References:
Eiffel Tower information : facts, height in feet, weight, ... (toureiffel.paris)

Why does the Eiffel Tower change size? - The Eiffel Tower (toureiffel.paris)

Eiffel Tower gets taller by 6 inches in summer | Facts News | Inshorts