How does the Six's Maximum and Minimum Thermometer help in measuring temperature accurately?
Six's maximum and the minimum thermometer is used for measuring the day's maximum and minimum temperature.
It consists of a U-shaped capillary tube with bulbs at both ends.
The bend of the U-tube is filled with mercury.
One of the bulbs is completely filled with alcohol and the other bulb is partly filled with alcohol.
The space in the bulb partly filled with alcohol is originally vacuum (but may contain alcohol vapor later).
The thermometric liquid is alcohol, whose expansion and contraction allow the change in temperature to be recorded.
Just above the mercury are two dumbbell-shaped steel indices, which are kept in place by tiny steel springs.
The two dumbbell-shaped steel indices are reset to their initial positions just above the mercury by means of a horse-shoe magnet.
The maximum temperature in the Six's thermometer is recorded as follows.
Due to a rise in the temperature during the day, the alcohol in the completely-filled bulb expands and exerts a pressure on the mercury.
The mercury moves toward the partly-filled bulb and pushes up the index in the capillary closer to the partly-filled bulb. Thus, the index closer to the partly-filled bulb records the maximum temperature.
The minimum temperature in the Six's thermometer is recorded as follows.
Due to a fall in the temperature during the night, the alcohol in the completely-filled bulb contracts.
The mercury moves toward the completely-filled bulb and pushes up the index in the capillary closer to the completely-filled bulb. Thus, the index closer to the completely-filled bulb records the minimum temperature.