Which would be suitable for measuring temperatures at the Arctic - an alcohol thermometer or a mercury thermometer? Give an explanation to justify your answer.

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Solution

Alcohol, since mercury solidifies at $- 39^{\circ}$ C, therefore, it is not possible to use a mercury thermometer for measuring very low temperatures. For measuring very low temperatures, alcohol is used because it solidifies at a much lower temperature, i.e., $114^{\circ}$ C. The temperature in Arctic and Antarctic may fall below $- 80^{\circ}$ C, so in these regions, an alcohol thermometer would be used in place of a mercury thermometer.

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Similar questions

Q. Would an alcohol thermometer be suitable for determining the temperature of boiling water? Justify your answer.

Q. Mercury thermometers can be used to measure temperatures upto:

Q. Assertion :Alcohol rather then mercury is used in a thermometer to measure a temperature of

- 60^{o} C

. Reason: Alcohol has a lower freezing point than mercury.

Q. Statement I: Mercury thermometer can measure higher temperature as its boiling point is high.
Statement II: Alcohol thermometer can measure low temperatures because it's per degree expansion is less.

Question 4

Boojho has three thermometers as shown in Figure. He wants to measure the temperature of his body and that of boiling water. Which thermometer(s) should he choose?

(a) Thermometer (i) or (iii) for measuring body temperature and Thermometer (ii) for measuring the temperature of boiling water.

(b) Thermometer (i) for measuring temperature of both.

(d) Thermometer (iii) for measuring temperature of both.

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