Chapter

10 Temperature

Learning
LearningOutcomes
Outcomes
• Explain how a temperature-dependent physical
property may be used to define temperature scales
and give examples of such properties
• Explain the need for fixed points
• State what is meant by ice point and steam point
• Explain how a thermocouple thermometer works
• Understand its use for measuring
high temperatures and rapidly
varying temperatures

THEME THREE: THERMAL PHYSICS

Chapter
10 Temperature

Summary
Summaryof
ofFormulae,
Formulae,Definitions
Definitionsand
andUnits
Units
Definition Formula
10.1 Temperature is the
Temperature measure of the degree
of hotness of a body.
10.1
Temperature
for
uncalibrated
thermometer

THEME THREE: THERMAL PHYSICS

Chapter
10 Temperature

Summary
Summaryof
ofFormulae,
Formulae,Definitions
Definitionsand
andUnits
Units
Definition Formula
10.1 Temperature in kelvins
Temperature = Temperature in
degress Celsius +273
10.1
Temperature
for
uncalibrated
thermometer

THEME THREE: THERMAL PHYSICS

Chapter
10 Temperature

10.1
10.1Principles
Principlesof
ofThermometry
Thermometry
• A thermometer is any instrument which is used
to measure temperature.
• Choice of thermometer depends on
• Range of temperature to be measured
• Accuracy required
• Physical conditions

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Chapter
10 Temperature

10.1
10.1Principles
Principlesof
ofThermometry
Thermometry
To Construct a Thermometer
1. Choose a physical property which changes continuously
with temperature e.g.
Physical Properties Thermometer
Volume of a fixed mass of liquid Mercury-in-glass
Alcohol-in-glass
Electrical resistance of a metal Resistance Thermometer
wire
Electromotive force (e.m.f.) Thermocouple
Pressure of a fixed mass of gas Constant volume gas thermometer
at constant volume
Bimetallic strip rotates a needle Meat thermometer
which shows the temperature on
a dial
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Chapter
10 Temperature

10.1
10.1Principles
Principlesof
ofThermometry
Thermometry
To Construct a Thermometer
2.Choose two fixed points (usually ice point and
steam point)
– Fixed points are chosen for purpose of
standardisation
– The fixed points will always be the same
under given conditions.
– It is the same temperature on all
thermometers.
3.Divide temperature between two fixed points
into many equal divisions

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Chapter
10 Temperature

10.1
10.1Principles
Principlesof
ofThermometry
Thermometry
The Celsius Scale also called centigrade scale.
• Has two fixed points
1. Ice point
– temperature of pure melting ice at
standard atmospheric pressure
– assigned a value of 0C
2. Steam point
– Temperature of steam at standard
atmospheric pressure
– assigned a value of 100 C

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Chapter
10 Temperature

10.1
10.1Principles
Principlesof
ofThermometry
Thermometry

Ice Steam
point point

• Interval between ice point and steam point is split into 100 equal
divisions.
• Each divisions is 1 degree Celsius (C).
• Note that the bulb of the thermometer is never placed in the
boiling water

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Chapter
10 Temperature

10.1
10.1Principles
Principlesof
ofThermometry
Thermometry

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Chapter
10 Temperature

10.1
10.1Principles
Principlesof
ofThermometry
Thermometry

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Chapter
10 Temperature

10.1
10.1Principles
Principlesof
ofThermometry
Thermometry
Kelvin or Absolute Scale
• Devised by Lord Kelvin.
• Zero is the absolute zero of temperature which
is the lowest possible temperature that any
substance can reach.
• SI unit of temperature is kelvin (K).

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Chapter
10 Temperature

10.1
10.1Principles
Principlesof
ofThermometry
Thermometry
• Temperature in kelvin =
Temperature in C + 273.15
T K =  C + 273.15

1 K = 1 C

Absolute zero

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Chapter
10 Temperature

10.1
10.1Principles
Principlesof
ofThermometry
Thermometry

THEME THREE: THERMAL PHYSICS

Chapter
10 Temperature

10.1
10.1Principles
Principlesof
ofThermometry
Thermometry

THEME THREE: THERMAL PHYSICS

Chapter
10 Temperature

10.2
10.2Thermocouple
ThermocoupleThermometers
Thermometers
• A thermocouple consists of two wires of different
metals joined together at the ends to form two
junction

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Chapter
10 Temperature

10.2
10.2Thermocouple
ThermocoupleThermometers
Thermometers
• ‘Cold junction’ of thermocouple is normally kept
at 0 C
• If there is no temperature difference between
‘hot junction’ and ‘cold junction’, voltage = zero.
• Temperature range over which a thermocouple
operates depends on the two metals used for
wires

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Chapter
10 Temperature

10.2
10.2Thermocouple
ThermocoupleThermometers
Thermometers
Advantages of a Thermocouple
• Can operate over wide range of temperatures
• From −200 C to 1700 C.
• Can measure high temperatures
• Can measure temperature at a point
• Can measure rapidly changing temperatures
because of small mass and thermal capacity of
the thermo-junctions

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Chapter
10 Temperature

10.2
10.2Thermocouple
ThermocoupleThermometers
Thermometers
• To produce a larger voltage and increase
sensitivity, thermocouples are connected in series
• Called a thermopile

THEME THREE: THERMAL PHYSICS

Chapter
10 Temperature

10.2
10.2Thermocouple
ThermocoupleThermometers
Thermometers

THEME THREE: THERMAL PHYSICS

Chapter
10 Temperature

10.2
10.2Thermocouple
ThermocoupleThermometers
Thermometers

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Chapter
10 Temperature

10.2
10.2Thermocouple
ThermocoupleThermometers
Thermometers

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Chapter
10 Temperature

THEME THREE: THERMAL PHYSICS

Chapter
10 Temperature

Questions
Questions
• What causes heat flow?
• How do we measure temperature?
• How do we construct a thermometer?
• Why do we need to define two fixed points when
constructing a thermometer?
• What are the advantages of a thermocouple
thermometer?

THEME THREE: THERMAL PHYSICS