Thermometry

1. What is thermometry ?
Branch of physics which deals with the measurement of temperature .
2. What is a thermometer ?
Device for measuring the temperature of a body from a measurement of some property of thermometric substance that
depends on temperature.
3. What are the different types of thermometer ?
(i) A bimetallic thermometer : Uses a bimetallic strip . When the strip is heated one metal expands more than the other
metal . The strip is in the form of a spiral which is attached to a pointer. The pointer rotates in response to
the change in temperature.
(ii) Thermoelectric thermometer : This thermometer is fitted with a thermocouple which on the principle that the
difference in temperature between two junctions produces a current . This current is measured and the
temperature difference can be measured.
(iii) Mercury in glass thermometer: It uses mercury and is based on the volume expansion of mercury.
4 What property should a good thermometric liquid possess ?
A good thermometric liquid must possess the following property :
(i) A marked degree of expansion for small temperature rise.
(ii) An uniform expansion rate
(iii) Good thermal conductivity
(iv) High boiling point and low freezing point.
5. State three advantages of using mercury as a thermometric liquid.
Advantages are :
(i) Opaque and does not stick to the glass.
(ii) Expands at even a small temperature rise.
(iii) Has high boiling point and low freezing point.
6. Stat two disadvantages of using mercury as a thermometric liquid
Disadvantages are :
(i) Expensive
(ii) Highly poisonous
7. State two disadvantages of using water as a thermometric liquid .
Disadvantages:
(i) Transparent , stick to the glass
(ii) Boils at 100oC and freezes at 0oC
8. Give the reasons for the following features of a common clinical thermometer (a) bulb is small (b) the bulb is made of thin
glass (c) the capillary tube is narrow (d) there is a constriction in the capillary
(a) To accommodate it below the tongue or armpits
(b) So that the mercury quickly acquires the temperature of the body
(c) To increase the sensitivity of the thermometer
(d) To prevent the mercury to come down after the thermometer is taken out of the mouth
9. What are the different thermometer scales used to measure temperature ?
(a) Celsius scale (ii) Fahrenheit scale (iii) Kelvin scale
10. What are the lower and upper fixed points in a Celsius scale ?
Lower fixed point is 0oC and upper fixed point is 100oC
11. What are the lower and upper fixed point in a Fahrenheit scale ?
Lower fixed point is 32oF and upper fixed point is 212oF
12. How many degrees in Fahrenheit scale will change for every degree rise in Celsius scale
Every degree rise in Celsius scale results in the rise of 1.8oF on the Fahrenheit scale.
13. At what temperature does the Celsius and Fahrenheit scale show the same reading.
- 40o
14. State the relation between Celsius and Fahrenheit scale.
F −32 C
=
9 5