Name Nicolae Chetroi Section 8-2 # 3

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-Mercur
y.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.

2. Submerging the thermometer in the liquid up to the line indicated on the thermometer.

3. Letting the bulb touch the bottom of the glass container when measuring the temperature of
the liquid in the glass container.
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?
Air and water temperature with the Celsius unit.

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

1C

3. What is the maximum number of significant digits you could record when measuring
temperature with the Celsius thermometer? Explain why.
To the tenth because you are approximating.

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.
You can record a measurement of less than 0C and more than 100.0C on the Celsius
thermometer. The lowest measurement is -20C and the highest measurement is 110C.

5. Why do you think the alcohol [a clear fluid] is colored in the Celsius thermometer?
So you can see the temperature.

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 in the Celsius thermometer expands when the temperature of a liquid the
thermometer is put in is warmer in temperature.

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 clear fluid in the Celsius thermometer contracts when the temperature of a liquid the
thermometer is put in is cooler in temperature.

8. Measure and record the current room temperature in C.

23C

9. Measure and record your and each other member of your groups hand temperature in C.
31C (group member)
28.8C (me)
10. Was there a difference between the temperatures recorded measurements in #9? If yes,
explain why.
Yes because they might have kept their hands in their pockets to heat their hands warm.