It is possible to cut the top off a alcohol-in-glass thermometer without any of the alcohol spilling out. However, it will no longer function as a good thermometer. Why not.
I am thinking it is a lost pressures issue.
It is now a barometer with the Mercury going up with low barometric pressure.
The alcohol would evaporate
Thank you so much.
It might last a few weeks in a bar, depending on the partial pressure of alcohol in the air... :)
You are correct! The reason why cutting the top off an alcohol-in-glass thermometer would cause it to no longer function properly is indeed related to pressure.
Alcohol-in-glass thermometers work based on the principle of thermal expansion. Inside the glass tube, there is a narrow passage containing alcohol, which expands or contracts with changes in temperature. This expansion or contraction of alcohol indicates a change in temperature, allowing us to measure it.
The key component that makes this thermometer work effectively is the presence of a closed system. When the top of the thermometer is sealed, the alcohol is trapped inside, creating a closed environment with a specific volume and pressure.
If you were to cut off the top of the thermometer, you would break this closed system. As a result, the pressure inside the thermometer changes to match the surrounding atmospheric pressure. Without the closed system, the alcohol can freely move in and out of the thermometer, and any pressure changes can cause significant errors in temperature readings.
Additionally, cutting the top off the thermometer exposes the alcohol to the surrounding environment, which may introduce contaminants or substances that can affect the properties or behavior of the alcohol.
Therefore, while you could potentially cut the top off an alcohol-in-glass thermometer without spilling the alcohol, doing so would compromise its function as a reliable temperature gauge due to the lost pressures issue and the effects of external factors.