Name Alex Section 8-1 #1

Celsius Thermometer

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

To Do #1: Read the following on the history of the thermometer.

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
To Do #2: Using the copy paper provided, reference pages 071 and 072, and the Celsius
thermometer, record the important facts about the Celsius thermometer in bulleted note
style and sketch a detailed image of a Celsius thermometer.

[record on separate sheet of paper]

To Do #3: Explain if the following are examples of precision when collecting data or not
and explain why. Explanations should be typed in bold.

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

No, because it wouldnt have time to change the temperature over and the measurement
would stay the same as the liquid before since it hasnt had time to adjust.

2. Submerging the thermometer in the liquid up to the line indicated on the thermometer.
Yes because the water temperature on the right line then it get a better reading of the
temperature. Since the water could be different temps this just helps you keep one
constant temp throughout.

3. Letting the bulb touch the bottom of the glass container when measuring the temperature of
the liquid in the glass container.
No this wouldnt be precise because it would be measuring the bottom of the container
not the center of the liquid which you would get a better reading,and it be the same
temperature throughout the liquid.
To Do #4: Complete the following questions in bold.

1. What property does the Celsius thermometer measure and what unit can be identified with
it? It measures temperature, and it is measured by celsius.

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

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 you can have is 3 because the highest you
can measure is 120. Except there is a extra 0 in there but there is an estimated third digit
in there if you add a decimal point.

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 measure less than 0oC and more than 100oC because the maximum you can
measure is 110oC, and the minimum you can measure is -20oC so that means water can
be above the boiling point and below the freezing point.

5. Why do you think the alcohol [a clear fluid] is colored in the Celsius thermometer?
So you are able to see it when it contracts and expands, and to be able to read clearly
what the temperature is.

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 in the thermometer when heated expands and rises up the tube to have a
warmer temperature.

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 clear fluid in the thermometer contracts and falls down the tube since it is cooler.
8. Measure and record the current room temperature in C.
19oC

9. Measure and record your and each other member of your groups hand temperature in C.
Me 22oC and my groupmate 35oC

10. Was there a difference between the temperatures recorded measurements in #9? If yes,
explain why.
Yes there was a difference of 13oC between one of my groupmates and I. There was a
change because it depended on the different temperatures of our hands, and how fast or
slow the thermometer read the temperature of our hands. The difference of the
temperature also could've depending on how we were holding the thermometer too. If
one of the people had bigger hands the liquid inside might moved more so it couldve
been more precise.