Experiment A: Temperature Measurement Methods

Objective:
To demonstrate the application of temperature scales and fixed points using mercury-glass
thermometer, bimetallic thermometer, thermocouple, resistance temperature detector, and
thermistor and vapor pressure thermometer.

Experiment Procedures:
1. Fill the water heater with clean water and connect the power cord.
2. Half fill the vacuum flask with a mixture of crushed ice and pure water (the ice being
made from pure water and crushed into fine particles).
3. Ambient air temperature measurement:

Take out the mercury-glass thermometer, close inspection will reveal a column of mercury
protrude from the bulb. Temperature measurement is achieved by relating the length of this
column to an engraved scale on the glass. Read the temperature indicated by the column at
ambient air temperature.
Take out the mercury in bi-metal thermometer, close inspection will reveal a metal rod at the
end of the indicator. Temperature measurement is achieved by transferring heat to the metal
rod.
Take out a Type K thermocouple. Connect the blue and yellow plugs to the corresponding
sockets of the Type K thermocouple temperature indicator. Place the thermocouple on the
baseboard and allow the readings to stabilize at the ambient air temperature. Read the
temperature indicated on the temperature indicator.
Take out a resistance temperature detector (RTD). Connect the RTD plug to the
corresponding sockets of the RTD indicator. Place the RTD on the baseboard and allow the
readings to stabilize at the ambient air temperature. Read the temperature indicated on the
RTD temperature indicator.
Take out a thermistor. Connect the thermistor plugs to the corresponding sockets of the
thermistor indicator. Place the thermistor on the baseboard and allow the readings to
stabilize at the ambient air temperature. Read the temperature indicated on the thermistor
indicator.
Take out the vapor pressure thermometer. Place the vapor pressure thermometer on the
baseboard and allow the readings to stabilize at the ambient air temperature. Read the
temperature indicated on the indicator

4. Ice-point temperature measurement

Insert the bulb of the thermometer into the water-ice mixture; stir gently to ensure intimate
contact with the mixture. Observe the reading on the thermometer.

Insert the metal rod of the bi-metal thermometer into the water-ice mixture; stir gently to
ensure intimate contact with the mixture. Observe the reading on the bimetallic
temperature indicator.
Insert the thermocouple probe into the water-ice mixture; stir gently to ensure intimate
contact with the mixture. Observe the reading on the thermocouple temperature indicator.
Insert the RTD probe into the water-ice mixture; stir gently to ensure intimate contact with
the mixture. Observe the reading on the RTD temperature indicator.
Insert the thermistor probe into the water-ice mixture; stir gently to ensure intimate contact
with the mixture. Observe the reading on the thermistor temperature indicator.
Insert the metal rod of the vapor pressure indicator into the water- ice mixture; stir gently
to ensure intimate contact with the mixture. Observe the reading on the indicator.

5. Boiling-point temperature measurement

Insert the bulb of the thermometer into boiling water. Observe the reading on the
thermometer.
Insert the metal rod of the bimetallic indicator into boiling water. Observe the reading on
the bimetallic indicator.
Insert the thermocouple probe into boiling water. Observe the reading on the temperature
indicator.
Insert the RTD probe into boiling water. Observe the reading on the resistance indicator.
Insert the thermistor probe into boiling water. Observe the reading on the thermistor
indicator.
Insert the metal rod of the vapor pressure indicator into boiling water.
Observe the reading on the thermometer.
Repeat the readings in ice and boiling water and observe that the readings are consistently
0C and 100C respectively.

Note:
The boiling point of water occurs at 100C for standard atmosphere pressure only(760mmHg).
At lower atmospheric pressure, boiling will occur at lower temperature and, conversely, at
higher atmospheric pressure, boiling will occur at high temperature. For example, a rise in
atmosphere of 27 mmHg above the standard pressure will result in a rise of 1C in the boiling
water point of water. Where boiling occurs at a temperature other than 100C, a barometer
should be consulted to confirm the deviation.
Pure water must be used where accurate calibration is required, paying attention to
atmospheric pressure at the time of calibration. On completion of the experiment, switch off
the water heater.

Observations:

Apparatus
Glass Thermometer (10C to
110C)
Glass Thermometer (5C to
350C)
Bimetal Thermometer
RTD
Thermistor
Type K Thermocouple
Vapor Pressure Thermometer

Ambient (C)

Ice Point (C)

Boiling Point
(C)