Name Emily 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.

This is not precise because it does not give enough time for the thermometer to acclimate to the
temperature of the liquid it is being immersed in.

2. Submerging the thermometer in the liquid up to the line indicated on the thermometer.
This is precise because if you do not immerse the thermometer to that line, you will not get a precise
answer because the thermometer will not be surrounded enough that it will be able to figure out and
show what the temperature of the liquid is.

3. Letting the bulb touch the bottom of the glass container when measuring the temperature of the liquid in the
glass container.
Letting the bulb touch the glass container is not precise because the thermometer will end up
measuring the glass container and not the liquid.

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 liquid and the units that it measures in is degrees Celsius.

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

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 when measuring temperature with the Celsius thermometer
is 3. This is because it only goes up to 110, and the thermometer goes by ones.

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, you can record a value less than 0C and more than 100.0C. This is because the measurement
lines go from -20C to 110C.

5. Why do you think the alcohol [a clear fluid] is colored in the Celsius thermometer?
I think the alcohol is colored because if it was clear, you wouldnt be able to read the temperature the
Celsius thermometer is showing.

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 expands, (rises up) to the higher numbers listed on the side the tube.

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 contracts, (falls down) to the lower numbers listed on the side the tube.

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

75C

9. Measure and record your and each other member of your groups hand temperature in C.
Noors hand was 30C, mine was 26C and Michaels was 25C.

10. Was there a difference between the temperatures recorded measurements in #9? If yes, explain why.
Yes, there was a difference because we all had different body temperatures.