Types of Thermometer


 
 
Concept Explanation
 

Types of Thermometer

Thermometer:

Thermometer is a device which is used to measure temperature. Thermometer is made of a long narrow glass tube; with a bulb at one end. The narrow tube appears as a continuous silver line; because it is filled with mercury. Mercury is a metal which is in liquid state at room temperature and it readily expands or contracts at the slightest change in temperature. Hence, mercury is used in thermometer.

Types of Thermometer:

A.    Laboratory Thermometer: Laboratory thermometer is used to measure the temperature. The scale of temperature is graduated generally from –10°C to 110°C over the glass tube. Each division of temperature scale is further divided into 10 parts to read fraction of temperature.

                                         

B. Clinical Thermometer: Clinical thermometer is used to measure the body temperature. The scale of temperature is graduated from 35°C to 42°C and or from 94°F to 108°F. The temperature of human body always remains within this range and this is the range on the clinical thermometer. There is a kink make near the bulb of clinical thermometer which prevents the automatic fall of mercury level.

                                                                                  

C.    Digital Thermometer: In digital thermometer, reading of temperature is displayed digitally as in digital watches. This is safer because no mercury is used in this. It is important to note that mercury is a highly toxic substance.

                                       

D.    Maximum-Minimum Thermometer: Maximum – minimum thermometer is used to measure the daily temperature to prepare weather reports.

                                            

Difference between clinical and laboratory thermometer

Reading of thermometer and measuring of temperature:

•    Take a clinical thermometer and hold it horizontally with reading scale towards your eye.

•    Do not hold the thermometer from the bulb.

•    Rotate the thermometer slightly clockwise and anticlockwise. By doing this you will see a shiny thin silvery thread.

•    The end of the silvery thread shows the reading of temperature. If mercury lining ends at 37, the reading is 37°C.

•    Wash the bulb end of thermometer with an antiseptic solution.

•    Give two or three jerks slightly. By doing this the mercury level would fall. When it falls to 35°C or below, put it below the tongue and wait for one minute.

•    Take out the thermometer and read the temperature. Temperature would be near 37°C.

•    The normal body temperature is 37°C. This can differ from person to person.  

Use of Laboratory Thermometer:

•    Take some water in a beaker.

•    Take a laboratory thermometer and immerse its bulb end in water; holding it vertically. Ensure to dip whole portion of bulb end. The bulb end should not touch the bottom or side of the beaker.

•    Observe the movement of rise of mercury. When it becomes stable, take the reading of the thermometer.

•    Repeat this with hot water and take the reading.

The range in terms of Fahrenheit on the body of the thermometer is between 94^{circ}C to 108^{circ}C. Human body temperature on the Fahrenheit scale is 98.4^{circ}F and in the Celsius scale it is 37^{circ}C. Clinical thermometer is made up of glass tube and a liquid ( mercury or alcohol or hydrocarbon based fluid) is filled inside it. As the temperature increases, volume of the mercury expands. Division on the body of the thermometer shows the increase in temperature.

Galileo was the first scientist to construct a thermometer based on the thermal expansion and he called his thermometer the thermoscope.

 

Sample Questions
(More Questions for each concept available in Login)
Question : 1

For a clinical thermometer we use a solid and a liquid. The liquid use in a clinical thermometer is :

Right Option : A
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Explanation
Question : 2

In the clinical thermometer the scale of temperature is graduated from ___________________  or from 94°F to 108°F.

Right Option : B
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Explanation
Question : 3

Which of the following are correct ?

(a) Thermometer is a device which is used to measure temperature.

(b) In the laboratory thermometer each division of temperature scale is further divided into 10 parts to read fraction of temperature .

(c) Clinical thermometer is used to measure the body temperature.

Right Option : D
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Explanation
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