1
Thermometers are used to measure temperature.
a Explain how a liquid-in-glass thermometer works.
b Every temperature scale must have at least two fixed points. What are the fixed points on the Celsius scale?
2
The diagram shows two liquid-in-glass thermometers.
A
°C
−10
0
10
20
30
40
50
B
60
70
80
90 100 110
°C
−10
0
10
20
30
40
50
a Which has the greater range? Explain how you can tell.
b Which is more sensitive? Explain how you can tell.
3
Copy and complete the sentence below, writing solids, liquids and gases in the correct spaces.
When materials are heated, as a rule, …… expand more slowly than ……, and these expand more slowly than …….
4
A student is using a thermometer to measure temperatures in a laboratory. The thermometer contains
mercury. As the temperature increases, the length of the mercury column in the thermometer increases.
a Explain why the mercury column becomes longer.
b The thermometer measures temperatures on the Celsius scale. The table gives details of the two fixed
points of the scale. Copy and complete the table.
Definition
Value
Lower fixed point
melting point of pure ice
……
Upper fixed point
……
100 °C
c Give another property of a material that varies with temperature and may be used to
measure temperature.
5
A student is investigating two thermometers. She notices that their scales are marked differently.
Liquid-in-glass thermometer: scale from −10 °C to +110 °C.
◆ Thermocouple thermometer: scale from −200 °C to +450 °C.
a Which thermometer has the greater range?
The student places both thermometers in pure, melting ice. Each shows that the temperature is 0 °C.
b State another temperature at which you would expect the two thermometers to give the same reading.
Explain your answer.
She then places the two thermometers in a beaker of warm water. The liquid-in-glass thermometer
shows that the temperature is 45.5 °C. The thermocouple thermometer reads 43 °C.
c Which thermometer is more sensitive? Explain how you know.
d Suggest why the two thermometers do not indicate the same temperature when they are placed in
the beaker of water.
◆
6 The liquid-in-glass thermometer shown has a scale from −10 °C to 110 °C.
°C
−10
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90 100 110
a Two of the temperatures marked on the thermometer are known as fixed points. State the values of
these fixed points (°C).
b The bulb of the thermometer shown is put into some boiling water.
i What happens to the liquid in the bulb when its temperature is raised?
ii What is seen happening to the liquid in the capillary tube when the bulb is put in the
boiling water?
c On a certain day in a cold country, the air temperature is −12 °C. Copy the diagram and use an
arrow to show approximately where the surface of the liquid will be at this temperature.