Name: Biana Section: 8-1 #4

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, since the thermometer has not yet had time to change its temperature, and the
measurement would be off.

2. Submerging the thermometer in the liquid up to the line indicated on the thermometer.
Yes, since the water temp would be on the proper line, making sure it doesnt receive
different temperatures in different parts of the thermometer, making sure that it finds an
accurate temp, not just an average.

3. Letting the bulb touch the bottom of the glass container when measuring the temperature of
the liquid in the glass container.
No, since the water is different in different places, the thermometers bulb should be in
the center of the water. This makes sure that the temperature is as close to the temp as
possible.
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?
Temperature, celsius.

2. Fill-in: Each calibrated line on the Celsius thermometer is worth ________.

One degree celsius.

3. What is the maximum number of significant digits you could record when measuring
temperature with the Celsius thermometer? Explain why.
3 significant digits. The tenth place, the ones place, and the estimated number.

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 record under 0C, and above 100.0C. The minimum measurement is -20C
and the max is 150C

5. Why do you think the alcohol [a clear fluid] is colored in the Celsius thermometer?
The alcohol is colored so that one can see the temp clearly, because if one was to look at
the alcohol while it was clear, they wouldnt be able to tell it apart from the glass tube
itself.

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 clear fluid expands, since it must go up to show the higher temp.

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 liquid contracts, since it must go down to show the lower temp.
8. Measure and record the current room temperature in C.
22.4C

9. Measure and record your and each other member of your groups hand temperature in C.
31.7C
28.5C
33.2C
30.3C
10. Was there a difference between the temperatures recorded measurements in #9? If yes,
explain why.
Yes, for the differences in circulation make the heat of ones blood different based on the
heart rate. Skin thickness and the amount of fat also increase or decrease ones
temperature because of the amount of space the heat must travel to get measured.