Question

Consider an alcohol and a mercury thermometer that read exactly 0 oC at the ice point and 100 oC at the steam point. The distance between the two points is divided into 100 equal parts in both thermometers. Do you think these thermometers will give exactly the same reading at a temperature of , say, 60 oC? Explain.

Answer 1

Answer:

No, both the thermometers will give the different reading.

Explanation:

Given,

• Both thermometer has same ice point = $T_i\ =\ 0^o C$
• Both thermometer has same steam point = $T_s\ =\ 100^o C$

• Distance between the ice point and steam point in both the thermometer is same of 100 division,

All the data given in both the thermometers are same, but the material in the thermometer is different due to this the reading at 60^o C will differ in both the thermometer. Because the reading on both the thermometer is depended upon the thermal expansion of the material inside it, but both the materials are different. Due to this the rise of fluid in the thermometer, i,e,. the volume of the fluid material in the thermometer will depend upon the thermal expansion.  Hence both the material alcohol and mercury have the different thermal expansion, therefore the rise of the fluid in the thermometer also differ in both the thermometer.