University of the East Manila

College of Engineering
Mechanical Engineering Department

EXPERIMENT NO. 1
TEMPERATURE MEASURING DEVICES

Date Performed: July 1, 2017

Date Submitted: July 8, 2017

Submitted by: Castillo, Kim Howard M.

20140119353
NME 412 ME1

Submitted to: Engr. Joselito H. Recio

Professor
 I. Objectives

To measure the temperatures of water at different conditions using various

temperature measuring devices.

To compare measurements by determining the percent error vis--vis a

standard the temperature reading.

To determine the percent accuracy of the temperature readings.

To determine whether the percent error is significant enough to affect the

accuracy of thermometers.

II. Apparatus

Water bath Low-range thermometer

Ice and water Medium-range thermometer
Digital thermometer High-range thermometer
Bi-metallic thermometer
IV. Procedure

a) Set up all the apparatus needed.

b) Using different temperature measuring devices, measure the ambient

temperature of water.

c) After recording the ambient temperature, Place the ice tubes on water and record
the temperature (freezing point). Use the temperature measured on a digital
thermometer as the standard value.
d) By using the water bath heater, set up the temperature of water to 10 C and
make sure the reading on the digital thermometer is 10 C. Measure it using
other temperature measuring devices.

e) Repeat procedure (d). Set up the temperature by 10 C and record it until it

becomes 100 C.

Temperature is set up to 20 C

30 C

40 C

50 C
 60 C

70 C

80 C

90 C

100 C
f) Record all the data on the table.

V. Results and Discussion

Temperature is a very critical and widely measured variable for

mechanical engineers. Many processes must have either a monitored or
controlled temperature. This can range from the simple monitoring of the water
temperature of an engine or load device, or as complex as the temperature of a
weld in a laser welding application. More difficult measurements such as the
temperature of smoke stack gas from a power generating station or blast furnace
or the exhaust gas of a rocket may be need to be monitored. Much more
common are the temperatures of fluids in processes or process support
applications, or the temperature of solid objects such as metal plates, bearings
and shafts in a piece of machinery.
As a mechanical engineering student, the students must know every
details of what temperature is so we are knowledgeable about it when the time
comes that already working in the field.
This experiment will help the student more understand what is
temperature. They were tasked to use and measure different readings of
temperature using thermometers, and were asked to compare the results with
respect to a selected value of a standard measurement.
This experiment also includes heat that can cause burns. It is advice that
before the experiment starts, students should be familiar with all the safety
information. Extreme care should be taken when making these tests. The student
 must ensure that their hands touch only the thermometers and that the rest of
their body stay clear of the boiling water. The instrument must set properly before
using it.
Measured Values
Condition STD Temp (C) T1 (C) T2 (C) T3 (C) T4 (C)
Ambient 30 31 30 30 33
Freezing 0 0 0 0 4 Table 1:
10C 10 10 10 10 13 Temperature
20C 20 20 20 20 24 measurement
30C 30 30 30 30 31 using different
40C 40 40 40 40 39 temperature
50C 50 49 50 49 50 measuring
60C 60 58 59 59 60 device.
70C 70 68 69 69 70
80C 80 77 77 79 80
90C 90 86 87 87 90
95C 95 91 91 90 95
The difference in the results could be due to several reasons. The
instrument was not very precise and the readings kept fluctuating. There might
have been some human error while reading the thermometers. Also the ambient
temperature might have been a bad choice as a reference, since with people
entering and leaving the room the temperature in the experiment vicinity was
bound to have been changing slightly.

Measured Values (Absolute)

Condition STD Temp (K) T1 (K) T2 (K) T3 (K) T4 (K)
Ambient 303.15 304.15 303.15 303.15 306.15
Freezing 273.15 273.15 273.15 273.15 277.15
10C 283.15 283.15 283.15 283.15 286.15
20C 293.15 293.15 293.15 293.15 297.15
30C 303.15 303.15 303.15 303.15 304.15
40C 313.15 313.15 313.15 313.15 312.15
50C 323.15 322.15 323.15 322.15 323.15
60C 333.15 331.15 332.15 332.15 333.15
70C 343.15 341.15 342.15 342.15 343.15
80C 353.15 350.15 350.15 352.15 353.15
90C 363.15 359.15 360.15 360.15 363.15
95C 368.15 364.15 364.15 363.15 368.15
 Table 2: Measured value in Kelvin (K)
The students changed the readings in absolute value for them to calculate
the percentage error. Because there are some errors inputting the equations in
excel.
Percentage Error
Condition STD Temp T1 T2 T3 T4
Ambient 303.15 0.33% 0.00% 0.00% 0.99%
Freezing 273.15 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 1.46%
10C 283.15 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 1.06%
20C 293.15 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 1.36%
30C 303.15 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.33%
40C 313.15 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.32%
50C 323.15 0.31% 0.00% 0.31% 0.00%
60C 333.15 0.60% 0.30% 0.30% 0.00%
70C 343.15 0.58% 0.29% 0.29% 0.00%
80C 353.15 0.85% 0.85% 0.28% 0.00%
90C 363.15 1.10% 0.83% 0.83% 0.00%
95C 368.15 1.09% 1.09% 1.36% 0.00%
Average 25.23% 25.22% 25.23% 25.75%

Table 3: Percentage error

The most obvious instrumental error would be the ends of the
thermometers that were inserted into the boiling water and ice water. If these
ends were not properly and completely inserted into the fluids it could lead to
percentage error. This table shows the slight differences in percentage error. It is
computed using the formula:

MEAN AND STANDARD DEVIATION

Condition STD Temp T1 T2 T3 T4 MEAN SD
Ambient 303.15 304.15 303.15 303.15 306.15 303.95 1.30
Freezing 273.15 273.15 273.15 273.15 277.15 273.95 1.79
10C 283.15 283.15 283.15 283.15 286.15 283.75 1.34
 20C 293.15 293.15 293.15 293.15 297.15 293.95 1.79
30C 303.15 303.15 303.15 303.15 304.15 303.35 0.45
40C 313.15 313.15 313.15 313.15 312.15 312.95 0.45
50C 323.15 322.15 323.15 322.15 323.15 322.75 0.55
60C 333.15 331.15 332.15 332.15 333.15 332.35 0.84
70C 343.15 341.15 342.15 342.15 343.15 342.35 0.84
80C 353.15 350.15 350.15 352.15 353.15 351.75 1.52
90C 363.15 359.15 360.15 360.15 363.15 361.15 1.87
95C 368.15 364.15 364.15 363.15 368.15 365.55 2.41

Table 4: Mean and Standard Deviation

The students calculated the mean and standard deviation. It shows that the data
are close to the mean.

Figure 10: Mean and standard deviation graph

As you can observe, all the data collected are close. It means that there is
no significant difference between the standard value and the experimental value.
The slight difference is due to experimental error.
VI. Conclusion and Recommendation

Base on the experiment, the student achieved the objectives. They were
able to measure the temperature of water using different types of thermometer.
The results are slightly different compared to the standard value. This is because
of the accuracy of different device used, the accuracy depends on the size and
length of the tube used, and how manufactured it.
The results show that even there is a slight difference between the
standard and measured, devices used is still accurate. Notice the percent error,
all the values are accepted as accurate.
The students also observed that while the temperature increases, the bi-
metal thermometer becomes accurate. Maybe this is just an observation but as
you can see the table, the glass tube thermometers are accurate especially the
high-range when measuring lower temperature compared to bi-metallic.
This simple experiment can help the students when the time comes
working in the field like power plants. All of the things in the power plant involves
temperature like steam power plants, ventilation and exhaust systems, etc. it is
better for the students to have a deep knowledge about it.

Upon conducting the experiment, the students arrived to formulating

suggestions to produce a more accurate result. The students suggest the
following:
The temperature measuring device should be calibrated before the
experiment starts.
Dont play while conducting an experiment to come up with a good result,
remember you are not a kid anymore.
 VII. Bibliography

Jones A. (2016, September 24). Temperature definition. Retrieved from

https://www.thoughtco.com/temperature-definition-in-science-2699014
Rouse M. (2011, March). Temperature. Retrieved from
http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/temperature-T
Temperature Measurement. Retrieved from
https://web.mst.edu/~cottrell/ME240/Resources/Temperature/Temperature.pdf
Lopez M. B. (2013, June 29). Temperature Measuring Devices.