Mercury, Alcohol, and Liquid Thermometers
Gas Thermometer
Galileo Thermometers
Maximum-Minimum Thermometer
Nitrogen Filled Thermometers

 

Code Number: 4A10.10

Demo Title: Thermometers - Gas and Liquid

Condition: Good

Principle: Pressure vs. Volume vs. Temperature in a Gas

Area of Study: Thermodynamics

Equipment: 

Gas Thermometer demo and Thermometers (assorted).

Procedure:

Gas Thermometer - Colored water will have to be added to the demo as needed.  Several drops of oil added to the top of the water on the open side of the U-tube will help to slow evaporation.  Warming the flask with both hands is all that is needed, although a grill lighter or Bunsen burner may be used for short periods of time.

CAUTION: The mercury thermometers need to have special handling as they are now considered hazardous waste if broken.

The homemade alcohol thermometers were made by physics and chemistry students as a lab project circa 1900 to 1930 or earlier.  They work well but because of their large liquid volume they take a long while to come to measured temperature.

The maximum-minimum thermometer has small plugs that ride on top of the mercury columns.  The plugs will remain in place and show the maximum and minimum temperatures recorded for a desired time period.

Examples of other large precision mercury thermometers are available for viewing.

References:

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4A10.10 - Gas Thermometer

 

4A10.10 - Dr. James Wetzel, PHYS 1611 - Thermometers