Class: Name:

Temperature and Thermometers

I Drilling

1.1 Temperature and the temperature scale Qsook (p.2))

1 Temperature is a measure of the degree of hotness of an object. It can be measured using a

thermometer.

2 A temperature scale has two easily reproducible fixed points. The range between the two fixed
points is divided into a number of equal divisions called degrees.

3 Temperature can be measured in degrees Celsius (0 C).

4 Celsius temperature scale (Fig 1.1):

• the lower fixed point is the ice point (0 C), the temperature of pure melting ice at normal
atmospheric pressure;
• the upper fixed point is the steam point (100 °C), the temperature of steam over pure
boiling water at normal atmospheric pressure.

-20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 °C

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cold hot

lower fixed point upper fixed point

Fig 1.1 The Celsius temperature scale.

1.2 Thermometers Q Book (p.7))

5 Each type of thermometer makes use of a temperature-dependent property to measure
temperature.

6 A thermometer needs to be calibrated before use.

■ Temperature and Thermometers

7 Two types of liquid-in-glass thermometers:

Mercury-in-glass thermometer Alcohol-in-glass thermometer

mercury thread alcohol thread

© can measure high temperatures © can measure low temperatures

(up to 357 °C) (down to -115 °C)

©y quick response slow response

�- mercury is poisonous © alcohol is not poisonous

,. BASIC EXERCISE
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Multiple-choice questions
1.1 A The senses of Ada are abnormal.
B The senses of Ada cannot measure the
1 Ada puts her left hand in iced water and degree of hotness of objects accurately.
her right hand in hot water. After 30 s, C Temperature is a subjective measure of
she puts both hands into a beaker of tap hotness.
water. Her left hand feels hot and her
right hand feels cold. What does this
D We need a temperature scale. D
result suggest? 2 Which of the following statements about
the Celsius temperature scale is/are
correct?
(1) It is the only correct temperature scale.
(2) Ice point and steam point can be
reproduced easily.
hot tap iced
(3) It is defined by choosing two fixed
water water water temperatures and dividing the range
between them into a number of equal
divisions.
A (1) only
B (3) only

□
C (1) and (2) only
hot tap iced D (2) and (3) only
water water water
1.2 6 Which of the following thermometers
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makes use of the change in volume of a
3 What is/are the advantage(s) of mercury­ liquid to measure temperature?
in-glass thermometers over alcohol-in­ A Liquid-in-glass thermometer
glass thermometers? B Thermistor thermometer

□
(1) Mercury is not toxic. C Rotary thermometer
(2) Mercury-in-glass thermometers can D Liquid crystal thermometer
measures higher temperatures.
(3) Mercury-in-glass thermometers 7 Which of the following is the most
respond to temperature changes more important reason why mercury is used in
quickly. making thermometers?
A (1) only A Mercury expands uniformly with
B (3) only temperature.

□
C (1) and (2) only B Mercury conducts heat quickly.
C Mercury does not vaporize easily.
D (2) and (3) only
D Mercury has a high boiling point. D
4 Which of the following thermometers
is/are suitable for measuring outdoor air i+-8 Lisa has plotted a calibration graph for an
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0

(1) Alcohol-in-glass thermometer the length of the liquid column at steam

point, she joined the data point and the
(2) Mercury-in-glass thermometer
origin on the graph as shown. Which of
(3) Clinical thermometer
the following statements about her graph
Help�r: The meHting points o(alcohol 13,n<i are correct?
15 6 C and ,--�9?C respectively .
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A (1) only
B (2) only
C (3) only
D (1) and (2) only □
5 An unmarked mercury-in-glass
thermometer is put in water of different
temperatures. The lengths of the mercury
column are 3 cm and 15 cm when
(1) The units are missing.
the temperatures are O °C and 100 °c
(2) The lower fixed point is missing.
respectively. What is the temperature
when the length of the mercury column is (3) The line must pass through the origin.
10.5 cm? A (1) and (2) only
A 62.5 °C B (1) and (3) only
B 65 °C C (2) and (3) only
□
□
C 67.5 °C D (1), (2) and (3)
D 70 °C
■ Temperature and Thermometers

Short questions
1.1
1 State the definitions of the lower and upper fixed points in the Celsius temperature scale.
(2 marks)

2 Write down the ice point and steam point in the Celsius scale and in the Fahrenheit scale in
the table below. A Celsius temperature (Tc) can be converted into a Fahrenheit temperature (TF)
by the following relation: (4 marks)
TF = 1.8Tc + 32

:� I
Ice point !
::
Steam point

l.l
3 The following figure shows the calibration graph of a resistance thermometer.

(a) What is the resistance at 60 °C? (1 mark)

(b) What is the temperature when the resistance is 15 Q? Assume the resistance varies linearly
with temperature. (2 marks)
 Revision
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II Revision
Multiple-choice questions
*1 The following figure shows the calibration *3 The resistance of the thermistor of a
graph of a liquid-in-glass thermometer. thermistor thermometer is SO Q at 10 °C
What is the length of the liquid column and 40 Q at 90 °C. Assume the resistance
when the temperature is 70 °C? of the thermistor varies linearly with
temperature. Find the resistance of the
thermistor at 40 °C.
A 6.25 Q
B 43.8 Q

□
C 46.3 Q
D 48.4 Q

:i4-4 The following figures show how three

properties of a material change with
temperature. Which of the properties
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er�mo - �me- t� er- --n?�- - -
-
(1) volume

A 12.4 cm
B 13.2 cm

□
C 14.6 cm
0 temperature

□
D 15.2 cm
(2) red orange yellow

*2 If the liquid column in a liquid-in-glass

thermometer is made narrower,
36 °C 37 °C 38 °C 39 °C
(1) the volume of the liquid in the
thermometer changes more for the (3) resistance
same temperature change.
(2) the length of the liquid column
changes more for the same temperature
change.
0 temperature
(3) the thermometer can be used on a
wider temperature range. A (1) only
A (1) only B (2) only
B (2) only C (3) only
□
□
C (3) only D (2) and (3) only
D (1) and (2) only
■ Temperature and Thermometers

Conventional questions
1 In a physics experiment lesson, Tony was given an unmarked mercury-in-glass thermometer.
His teacher asked him to calibrate the thermometer, and he was given step 1.
(1) Put the thermometer bulb into pure melting ice. Measure the length of the liquid
column.
(a) Write down steps 2 and 3. (2 marks)

(b) State two safety precautions when doing this experiment. (2 marks)

(c) Tony broke the thermometer accidentally. What action should he take? (1 mark)

- -
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-

(d) Tony obtained the following data from the experiment.

Position of Temperature Length of mercury column

thermometer bulb TI °C LI cm
In melting ice 0 7
In boiling water 100 19

(i) Draw a calibration graph of the thermometer. (2 marks)

(ii) When the temperature is 65 °C, find the length of the mercury column. (2 marks)
 2 Betty connects a metal coil to a battery and an ammeter as shown to make her own
Revision
■
thermometer. She puts the metal coil into pure melting ice and pure boiling water in turn
and the ammeter reads 40 mA and 30 mA respectively. Assume the ammeter reading varies
linearly with temperature.

ammeter

metal.coil

The ammeter reads 14 mA when the metal coil is immersed in some hot oil. Find the
temperature of the hot oil. (2 marks)

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*3 Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.

Thermocouple thermometers
Some heating appliances, such as cooking stoves and water heaters, burn gas fuels.
Thermocouple thermometers Um\J��1M¥1lUltt) may be found in these appliances
as a safety device. It is very sensitive and can measure temperatures from -200 °C to
1700 °C. It consists of wires of two different metals joined together at the ends to form
two junctions.
copper ammeter

copper

iron

junctions
■ Temperature and Thermometers
1
9
9
4
A temperature difference between the two junctions causes an electric current to flow 4
2
around the circuit. The current increases with the temperature difference. No current 3
4
8
flows if the two junctions are at the same temperature.

I
In a cooking stove, one junction is installed near the flame. A current flows when the
flame is turned on. If the flame goes out accidentally, the current drops and this cuts the
gas supply to prevent leakage.

(a) What is the temperature-dependent property used in a thermocouple thermometer?

(1 mark)

(b) Give two properties of the thermocouple thermometer that make it suitable for a cooking
stove. Explain briefly. (4 marks)

(c) When one junction of a thermocouple thermometer is kept in melting ice and the other
junction in boiling water, the ammeter reads 80 µA (A is the unit of electric current;
80 µA= 8 x 10~5 A). Then the hot junction is immersed in hot water and the ammeter
reads 48 µA. Assume the ammeter reading varies linearly with temperature. Find the
temperature of the hot water. (2 marks)