Suppose that you had a mercury-in-glass thermometer marked and calibrated to measure temperatures from -10 degrees celsius to 110 degrees celsius and you wished to measure a temperature of approximately 115 degrees celsius accurately. How might you use your thermometer to do it?
To measure a temperature of approximately 115 degrees Celsius accurately using a mercury-in-glass thermometer calibrated to measure up to 110 degrees Celsius, you can use the following steps:
1. Prepare boiling water: Fill a container with distilled water and heat it until it reaches the boiling point. Make sure to remove any impurities or minerals that might affect the accuracy of the thermometer.
2. Observe the boiling point: Place the thermometer in the boiling water, ensuring that the bulb is completely submerged. Wait for a few minutes until the mercury level stabilizes.
3. Record the boiling point: Look at the reading on the thermometer at the point where the mercury level stabilizes. This corresponds to the boiling point of water, which is approximately 100 degrees Celsius at sea level.
4. Determine the correction factor: Calculate the difference between the boiling point of water (100 degrees Celsius) and the maximum temperature indicated on your thermometer (110 degrees Celsius). In this case, the correction factor is 10 degrees Celsius.
5. Apply the correction factor: Add the correction factor obtained in step 4 to the reading you obtained in step 3. If the reading was 100 degrees Celsius, add 10 degrees Celsius to get 110 degrees Celsius. This allows you to accurately measure up to the maximum indicated temperature on the thermometer.
6. Take the approximate temperature measurement: Keeping in mind the correction factor, place the thermometer in the environment where you want to measure the temperature of around 115 degrees Celsius. Note the reading on the thermometer's scale. However, keep in mind that beyond the calibration range, the accuracy might decrease, so the measurement will be an approximation.
Remember, it is essential to handle the mercury-in-glass thermometer with care and avoid contact with mercury as it is toxic. Following these steps will allow you to estimate a temperature beyond the calibrated range of the thermometer.