Question

Four arrangements to measure the temperature of the ice in a beaker with a laboratory thermometer are shown in Figures (a, b, c and d). Which one of them shows the correct arrangement for accurate measurement of temperature?

Answer 1

Step 1: Thermometer

1. A thermometer is a device that measures the temperature of an object or the temperature difference between two objects.
2. Thermo means hot, therefore a thermometer is a device that measures how hot or cold something is.

Step 2: Analyzing the figure

In the given figure, we measure the ice's temperature in a beaker. The temperature of ice is about ${32}^{0}For{0}^{o}C$.

Step 3: Correct way to measure temperature using a thermometer

1. We must ensure that the thermometer is positioned vertically, not diagonally or any other way.
2. A clinical thermometer has a kink to prevent mercury from being fallen back on its own whereas a laboratory thermometer does not have one. A laboratory thermometer should be kept upright not tilted for taking temperature readings.
3. We cannot contact the thermometer to the upper surface or the bottom of the beaker when checking the temperature of any solution in a beaker. It must remain in the middle.
4. The thermometer should not touch the surface of the container because if it will touch it, the temperature taken will not be correct.
5. Suspend the thermometer's reservoir (the tip) below the surface of the solution, but don't let the tip touch the container's walls or bottom. The temperature of the glass will be measured instead of the temperature of the solution if the thermometer bulb touches the container.

Hence, Figure (a) shows the right way to measure the accurate temperature using a thermometer.