Question

What is the need of a kink in a clinical thermometer?

• A. It prevents the backflow of mercury inside the bulb.
• B. It is used to store mercury.
• C. It is just a manufacturing defect.
• D. It is used to make it look attractive.

Answer 1

The correct option is A It prevents the backflow of mercury inside the bulb.

A kink in the glass tube of a clinical thermometer prevents mercury from rapidly falling down. When we take a temperature reading and then remove the thermometer from the body, the temperature drops. As a result, the mercury will begin to drop, and the readings will be incorrect. So, to get the accurate reading without back flow of mercury in the bulb, kink is there in a clinical thermometre.