Section: 8-3

Temperature Lab

Objective: To identify the tool[s] associated with the calibrated system used to measure
temperature and to explain its purpose in measurement as it relates to data collection.

I. History of the Thermometer

The instrument used to measure temperature is a thermometer, a word derived from the Greek
thermos, meaning "hot," and metron, "measure."

Thermometers were simply used in meteorology, in horticulture, and sometimes for indoor use.

The lines on a thermometer indicate that the system is calibrated. It is generally calibrated
according to the best known fixed points on the temperature scale, the melting and boiling point
of pure water.
Anders Celsius should be recognized as the first to perform and publish careful experiments aiming at the
definition of an international temperature scale on scientific grounds. In his Swedish paper "Observations of two
persistent degrees on a thermometer" he reports on experiments to check that the freezing point is independent of
latitude (and also of atmospheric pressure!). He determined the dependence of the boiling of water with atmospheric
pressure (in excellent agreement with modern data). He further gave a rule for the determination of the boiling point
if the barometric pressure deviates from a certain standard pressure.

Mercury A Health Hazard

http://www.chabad.org/theJewishWoman/article_cdo/aid/498849/jewish/The-Dangers-of-Mercury.htm

II. Precision in Measurement

1. Recording a temperature directly after the thermometer is exposed to a new liquid.

It is not precise because the thermometers liquid is still rising and it takes time for it to accurately
measure the liquids temperature.

2. Submerging the thermometer in the liquid up to the line indicated on the thermometer.

That is precise because the thermometer will get all the heat in that liquid, and will measure it
precisely.

3. Letting the bulb touch the bottom of the glass container when measuring the temperature of the liquid in the
glass container.

It is not precise because the bulb will absorb more heat than the bulb without touching the bottom of
the glass container.

III. Looking More Closely

Note: Answers should be written in bold.

1. What property does the Celsius thermometer measure and what unit can be identified with it?
The Celsius thermometer measures temperature using the unit Celsius.

2. Fill-in: Each calibrated line on the Celsius thermometer is worth 1.

3. What is the maximum number of significant digits you could record when measuring temperature with the Celsius
thermometer? Explain why.

The maximum number of significant digits is 4 because they go up to 100, then you could estimate from
there.

4. Can you record a measurement of less than 0C and more than 100.0C on the Celsius thermometer? Explain
the minimum and maximum values based on the Celsius thermometer you are given.
Yes because the minimum and maximum values are -20C and 110C

5. Why do you think the alcohol [a clear fluid] is colored in the Celsius thermometer?

I think that the reason that alcohol is colored is because if it was not, it would be really hard to see,
since it is a clear liquid.

6. What happens to the clear fluid in the Celsius thermometer when the temperature of a liquid the thermometer is
put in is warmer in temperature? Does the clear fluid expand [rise up] or contract [fall down]in the tube?

The fluid, alcohol, expands which causes it to rise in the Celsius Thermometer.

7. What happens to the clear fluid in the Celsius thermometer when the temperature of a liquid the thermometer is
put in is cooler in temperature? Does the clear fluid expand [rise up] or contract [fall down]in the tube?

The fluid, alcohol, contracts which causes it to fall in the Celsius Thermometer.

8. Measure and record the current room temperature in C.

The room temperature is 29C.

9. Measure and record your and each other member of your groups hand temperature in C.

The groups hand temperature was 28C.

10. Was there a difference between the temperatures recorded measurements in #9? If yes, explain why.

Yes, there was a difference because not all the group members hands were 28C, it was the average.
Some were 27C and some had 30C.