DEPARTMENT OF APPLIED MECHANICS, IIT DELHI

Experimental Methods Laboratory (APL103)

EXPERIMENT NO. 7: Temperature Measurement Devices
Objective:
To study various temperature measuring instruments and to estimate their response time.
1. Mercury-in-glass thermometer, 2. Thermocouple, 3. Electrical resistance thermometer 4. Bi-metallic strip, 5. Mercury-in-
steel and 6. Vapour-pressure thermometer.
Background:
1. Mercury-in-glass thermometer: This is the most common thermometer used to measure body temperature, room
temperature etc.
2. Thermocouple: This relies on the Seebeck effect — when two junctions are formed with two dissimilar metals and the
junctions are kept at different temperatures, then an e.m.f. is developed between them which is proportional to the difference
in temperature. If fine wires are used to form the junctions, then the time constant can be quite small (ms). Here we will
assume that the time constant for the thermocouple is effectively zero and estimate the time constants for the other devices.
3. Electrical resistance thermometer: Also called a resistance temperature device (RTD). It has a resistance wire (usually a
platinum coil) as the sensing element. After calibration, the temperature may be determined by simply measuring the
resistance.
4. Bi-metallic strip: Here two metals with different coefficients of thermal expansion are bonded together. When the
temperature changes, the composite strip will bend due to the different rates of expansion. Usually the strip is arranged in the
shape of helix, within the sensing element, so that it twists with changes in temperature. This twist is shown on the readout.
5. Mercury-in-Steel thermometer: Here a steel bulb and the connecting tube is filled with Mercury. If the total volume is kept
nearly constant then the pressure of the Mercury will vary with temperature due to its tendency to expand and contract. The
changes in pressure can be measured (e.g. using a Bourdon gauge) and the temperature may be determined.
6. Vapour-pressure thermometer: Here we have a bulb filled with liquid that has a significant variation in vapour pressure in
the temperature range to be measured. At each temperature there is an unique pressure at which the liquid and gas are in
equilibrium and hence this pressure can be used to measure the temperature.
Apparatus:
Steel bath with stirrer, heater, stopwatch, and the temperature measuring devices.
Procedure:
1. Place all the devices in the cold bath. After the readings have stabilized (5 to 7 min), take the readings corresponding to
the ambient temperature.
2. Turn on the heater and the stirrer. Immediately start the stopwatch. Also start recording the data on the computer for the
RTD and thermocouple.
3. When the mercury-in-glass thermometer records a 5oC change, note the time and the readings indicated by all the
devices.
4. Repeat step (3) till the water starts boiling (i.e. bath temperature reaches 100oC), stop the watch.
5. Let the water boil for a few minutes and note down all the readings after they have stabilized.
6. Switch off the heater and again start the stopwatch and simultaneously start recording the data on the computer
7. Now record all the manual readings after every 2 minutes.
8. Repeat step (7) till the temperature falls to 60oC.
Observations:
1. Least count of the stop watch = s.
2. Least counts of all the devices (in degrees Centigrade)
2. Readings for increasing temperature
Sr No. Time (s) device 1 device 2 device 3 device 4 device 5 device 6

4. Readings for decreasing temperature, similar to the table above.

Analysis:
1. Calibration:
a) First calibrate the mercury-in-glass thermometer. On the support plate the reading for melting ice is indicated
(i.e. the reading for 0oC). From step 5 above you have the reading for boiling water (i.e. 100oC). Use these two readings
and obtain constants ‘a’ and ‘b’ for the mercury-in-glass thermometer for use in the following equation:
corrected temperature = a + b (indicated temperature)

b) Use the calibration constants determined in step a) to get the corrected value for the ambient temperature form
the reading obtained for the mercury-in-glass thermometer in step 1 above.
Now for each of the other devices you have two proper readings --- one at corrected ambient temperature and one
at the boiling point. Using this information determine ‘a*’ and ‘b*’ for each device where,
corrected temperature = a* + b* (indicated temperature).

2. Generate tables (3 & 4) of corrected temperatures from tables 1 and 2, using ‘a, a*’ and ‘b, b*’ as determined above.
3. Plot the temperature v/s time curve for all the devices. Plot all the curves for rising temperature on the same graph and all
the curves for falling temperature on another graph.

4. Assuming that the time constant for the thermocouple is zero, determine the time constants for the other devices from the
graph of rising temperatures. If you study the graph you will find a region where the corrected temperatures vary linearly
with time. In this linear region the time lag from the thermocouple gives the time constant of each instrument.
Discussion:
1. Compare all the devices based on the following: ruggedness, ease of use, linearity, accuracy, and time of response.
2. Suggest ways to improve the experiment.