What effect does heating have on steel?

Heating steel affects its molecular structure, causing it to elongate as the metal’s temperature increases. When steel is heated, the kinetic energy of the atoms increases, leading to greater distances between them. This expansion is a physical change where the material increases in length and volume.

In practical application, understanding how steel behaves with heat is crucial in firefighting and structural engineering, as it informs decisions on equipment use, building integrity, and safety measures during a fire incident. For example, firefighters need to be aware that steel beams can expand and potentially lead to structural compromises when they encounter high temperatures.

Overall, heating steel leads to elongation, making this the correct response in the context of the question.