TEMPERATURE

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TEMPERATURE
Temperature is the measure of average kinetic energy
of the particles.
Temperature is measured by using thermometer.
The units of temperature are: Kelvin (K), degree
Celsius (°C) and Fahrenheit (F).
The SI units - Kelvin
There are different types of thermometers
Liquid in glass thermometers
Laboratory thermometer
Clinical thermometer
Thermocouple thermometer

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1. Laboratory thermometer
Laboratory thermometer is used to measure the temperature
different things while doing experiments.
The laboratory thermometer shown below, the liquid in the
bulb expands when the temperature rises. The tube is made
narrow so that a small increase in volume of liquid produces a
large movement along the tube.
So which means in laboratory thermometer the physical
property varies with temperature is volume of the liquid.

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 Main design features
1 The mercury or alcohol is contain
in a thin wall glass bulb
2 Bulb is made small to contain a
small amount of liquid.
3 The bore of capillary tube is fine
and uniform
4 The walls of the long tube above
the bulb are made thick and
circular shape.
5 The size of the thermometer is
relatively small.
Purpose or working principle
Thin wall of the bulb allows
conduction of heat quickly through
the glass (a poor conductor of heat)
to the liquid.
Small amount of liquid will be more
responsive to heat
The fine tube allows noticeable
movement of the liquid for small
change in temperature, (i.e. good
sensitivity). The uniform tube
ensures even expansion of the
liquid.
This acts as a magnifying glass for
easy reading of the mercury thread
in the stem.
The small size allows it to be
portable and also cheap to produce.
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2. Clinical thermometer
Clinical thermometers are used to measure the
temperature of human body in hospitals.
In clinical thermometer also the physical
property varies with temperature is volume of
the liquid.

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 Main design features
1 The glass wall of the bulb is thin
2 Bulb is made small to contain a
small amount of liquid.
3 The bore of capillary tube is fine and
uniform
4 The walls of the long tube above the bulb
are made thick and circular shape.
5 The scale is limited to small range between 35°C
to 42°C.
6 A narrow constriction
Purpose of working principles
Thin wall of the bulb allow s conduction
of heat quickly through the glass (a poor
conductor of heat) to the liquid.
Small amount of liquid will be more
responsive to heat
The fine tube allows noticeable movement of
the liquid for small change in temperature,
(i.e. good sensitivity). The uniform tube
ensures even expansion of the liquid.
This acts as a magnifying glass for easy
reading of the mercury thread in the stem.
Since the normal body temperature is 37°C, the
short range allows for greater accuracy and the stem
can be made reasonably short.
After taking temperature, it prevents contracting
mercury from flowing back into the bulb by
breaking the mercury threat at constriction.
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Sensitivity, linearity and range of liquid-glass-thermometers
Sensitivity
Sensitivity of the thermometer is the change in reading of the
thermometer for a small change in temperature.
If the reading of the thermometer has a noticeable change for
a small change in temperature, the sensitivity is HIGH.
If the reading of the thermometer shows small difference
change in temperature, the sensitivity is LOW.

Sensitivity of the thermometer can be increased by narrowing

the bore tube and using thin glass bulb.

Range
The span of temperature that the thermometer can measure.
Example: For laboratory thermometer, −10°C to 110°C
For clinical thermometer, 35°C to 42 °C
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 Linearity
The liquid of the thermometer expands linearly with increase
in temperature.
For the same increase in temperature, the length of mercury
thread increased by the same amount.
3. Thermocouple thermometer
Thermocouple thermometer is used to measure very high
temperatures in industries. It make use of physical property
varies with temperature is electromotive force (e.m.f).
Thermocouple has two junctions hot and cold junctions. To use
thermocouple its ends are connected to a sensitive voltmeter. The
one junction is place in melting ice at 0°C while other end is placed
in object whose temperature is measured. The voltmeter shows the
reading. The greater the voltage produce, the bigger difference in
temperatures between two junctions. The thermocouple must be
calibrated so that the temperature can be deduced from voltage.

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EXERCISE

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Calibrating Thermometer Scale
First put the unmarked thermometer into the ice and wait until
the liquid of the thermometer becomes steady. When it
becomes steady by using marker mark that point, which is ice
point or lower fixed point.

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After that put the unmarked thermometer into the boiling
water and wait until the liquid of the thermometer becomes
steady. When it becomes steady by using marker mark that
point, which is steam point or upper fixed point.

Now calibrate the scale of the thermometer between two fixed

points by using ruler. Measure the distance between two fixed
points and divide the divisions. Education for the Real World