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Physics

Temperature is a measure of the degree of hotness of an object. There are three main temperature scales: Celsius, Fahrenheit, and Kelvin. Common thermometers measure temperature-dependent properties like the volume of liquid in a glass or the resistance of metals. To calibrate a thermometer on the Celsius scale, it is placed in ice water (0°C) and boiling water (100°C) to establish the scale's fixed points. Particle kinetic energy increases with temperature, so temperature can be understood as a measure of average particle motion.

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Dexter the Doubledmint
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59 views

Physics

Temperature is a measure of the degree of hotness of an object. There are three main temperature scales: Celsius, Fahrenheit, and Kelvin. Common thermometers measure temperature-dependent properties like the volume of liquid in a glass or the resistance of metals. To calibrate a thermometer on the Celsius scale, it is placed in ice water (0°C) and boiling water (100°C) to establish the scale's fixed points. Particle kinetic energy increases with temperature, so temperature can be understood as a measure of average particle motion.

Uploaded by

Dexter the Doubledmint
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Temperature and thermometers


(A) Temperature

a. Temperature is a measure of the degree of hotness of an object.

b. Common temperature scales


1. Celsius temperature scale (oC)
2. Fahrenheit scale (oF)
3. absolute temperature scale (K)

Temperatures in different scales can be converted using the following equations.


TC = 5(TF -32)/9
TK = TC + 273.15

c. Common thermometers (temperature-dependent property)


1. Liquid-in-glass thermometer (Volume of a liquid [mercury or alcohol] increase with
temperature)
2. Infrared thermometer (infrared radiations increase with temperature)
3. Rotary thermometer (curvature of the bimetallic strip)
4. Resistance thermometer (resistance of metal increases with temperature)
5. Thermistor thermometer (resistance of semi-conductor decreases with
temperature)
6. Gas thermometer (Universal standard) (Volume or pressure of a fixed mass of gas
increase with temperature)

(B) Calibrate a thermometer on the Celsius temperature scale


- need two fixed points
- ice point (low fixed point = 0 oC) and steam point (upper fixed point = 100 oC)
- Assume the temperature-dependent property varies linearly with the temperature
(∆x ∝ ∆T).

- The range between the fixed points is divided into 100 equal divisions.
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Experiment: You are given an unmarked thermometer, some boiling water, melting ice and a
marker. Put the thermometer in pure boiling water (Do not touch the bottom of the kettle.). Mark
the alcohol level as 100 oC (L100). Then put the thermometer in pure melting ice and mark the
alcohol level as 0 oC (L0). Divide the separation between the two markings into 100 equal divisions.
Each division represents 1 oC.

L100 = __________ mm (L0) = __________ mm

(a) Assume the length of the alcohol column varies linearly with the temperature, draw a graph
of L (length of the alcohol) against T (temperature).

0 20 40 60 80 100 120
(b) Hence or otherwise find the temperature of the tap water.

Length of alcohol column in tap water = __________ cm

Temperature of the tap water = __________ oC

(C) Temperature and particle motion


a. Kinetic theory
All matter is made up of very tiny particles (atoms, molecules or ions) which are
constantly in motion.

b. The temperature of an object is a measure of the average kinetic energy (due to the
motion) of the particles in the object. (Average kinetic energy of the particles is directly
proportional to the absolute temperature of the object.)
The lowest possible temperature is the absolute zero which is about -273 oC. (At this
temperature, the kinetic energy is nearly zero.)
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c. Three states of matter


General Property Arrangement and movement of particles (position /
State
(Volume and shape) separation / movement / bonding)

Solid

Liquid

Gas

Exercises
1. A liquid-in-glass thermometer is placed vertically near a half metre-ruler. The lengths of the
liquid column at the lower and upper fixed points are 20 cm and 40 cm respectively.
(a) What is the length of the liquid column at 40 oC?

(b) What is the temperature corresponding to the length of 35 cm?

2. The resistance of a metal wire is 25 Ω when the temperature is -20 oC and is 40 Ω at 110 oC.
(a) Estimate the resistance of the metal wire at 70 oC. State the assumption in your calculations.

(b) Estimate the temperature when the resistance is 80 Ω.


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3. The following shows a clinical thermometer.

(a) Name two features of the clinical thermometer which are different from an ordinary
thermometer.

(b) Why should a nurse shake the clinical thermometer before using it?

(c) Why do we not sterilize the clinical thermometer in boiling water? Suggest a way to sterilize it.

(d) Why should the capillary tube of the clinical thermometer be narrow?

(e) Why do we not use coloured water in the liquid-in-glass thermometer?

4. Explain, in terms of motion of molecules, why temperature has a lower limit.

5. A piece of colour dye is placed in a beaker of tap water. After several minutes, the water
behaves as shown.
(a) Explain, in terms of motion of molecules, why the water becomes
coloured.

(b) State ONE difference if hot water is used. Explain briefly.

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