The mercury pools in the bulb, but
when it heats up, it expands
. Because it can't expand through the bottom of the bulb, it is forced up the tube. That expansion, caused by the atoms flying around faster and taking up more space, is what makes the thermometer work.
Why does the mercury inside a thermometer move up when the temperature increases?
Why does mercury in a thermometer rise when the temperature goes up? In a mercury thermometer, the level of mercury rises when its bulb comes in contact with a hot object
because mercury expands when the temperature is increased
and hence it rises in the capillary tube.
What is the reason behind the movement of the mercury inside the thermometer?
Mercury is the only one in liquid state at room temperature. It's used in thermometers
because it has high coefficient of expansion
. Hence, the slightest change in temperature is notable when it's used in a thermometer. It also has a high boiling point which makes it very suitable to measure higher temperatures.
How does mercury react to temperatures inside a thermometer?
Liquid mercury responds to
very high temperatures by boiling into a vapor
; this occurs at 356.73 °C (674.11 °F). … To circumvent the limitations of mercury, high-temperature thermometers use thermocouples, infrared light sensors and other ways of measuring hot objects.
Is it illegal to have a mercury thermometer?
Those days have passed. Since 2001,
20 states have banned mercury “fever thermometers” for medical use
, and regulations tighten every year. … But as of today the federal government has more or less killed the mercury thermometer in the United States—NIST has announced it will no longer calibrate mercury thermometers.
Which is better mercury or digital thermometer?
1.
Digital thermometers provide faster
results. Digital thermometers provide fast results as opposed to mercury thermometers whose readings are slower to realize because you have to wait for the mercury to heat and then slowly rise to display the temperature.
What causes thermometer to rise?
Science Assessment
A glass thermometer has a colored liquid inside it. The level of colored liquid rises
when the thermometer is placed in hot water
. … Heat causes the molecules of the liquid to get farther apart. The molecules of the liquid break down into atoms and take up more space.
What causes mercury to rise?
The reason of rise level of Mercury is
as mercy expand in contact with heat
. When we put the mercy thermometer the bottom of the bulb in hot object the heat is transfer to the mercy and it expand and rise.
Why is the mercury in a thermometer stored in a narrow tube?
3. The tube in the thermometer that contains the red liquid is
very thin
so that it is easier to see the liquid move up and down. … The alcohol and the mercury thermometers go up by different amounts because the molecules that make up alcohol and the atoms that make up mercury are different.
Does mercury change with temperature?
“From the night,
Mercury's surface temperature changes 1,130 °F (630 °C)
, more than any other planet or moon in the solar system. Just before sunrise on a typical day on Mercury the temperature is -300 °F (-180 °C). … At noontime, 22 Earth days since the sun rise, it has climbed to 765 °F (407 °C).
Does temperature affect mercury?
Because of global warming, the quantity of naturally generated mercury (Hg)
will increase
, subsequently methylation of Hg existing in seawater may be enhanced, and the content of metal in marine products rise which consequently results in harm to human health.
Does mercury expand with heat?
When heated or cooled,
mercury expands or contracts at a rate that is more constant than most other substances
. Also, it has a wide range of temperatures between its boiling and freezing points.
Is mercury illegal to own?
Effective
January 1, 2003
, the California Mercury Reduction Act banned the sale of many products containing mercury. Even though they are banned from California's marketplace, these mercury containing products still are frequently found in homes.
What do thermometers use instead of mercury?
The alcohol thermometer or spirit thermometer
is an alternative to the mercury-in-glass thermometer and has similar functions. Unlike the mercury-in-glass thermometer, the contents of an alcohol thermometer are less toxic and will evaporate quickly.
What is the most reliable thermometer?
- iProven DMT-489. Best thermometer overall. …
- Innovo Forehead and Ear. Another top dual-mode thermometer. …
- Vicks ComfortFlex. Best thermometer for infants. …
- Chooseen Digital Forehead and Ear Thermometer. …
- Kinsa Smart Ear Thermometer. …
- Kinsa QuickCare. …
- Elepho eTherm. …
- Braun ThermoScan 7.
Which brand digital thermometer is best?
- Omron MC 720 Non Contact Digital Infrared Forehead Thermometer. …
- Vandelay Infrared Thermometer. …
- Vandelay Flexible Tip Digital Thermometer. …
- Yuwell Infrared IR Non-Contact Forehead Thermometer. …
- Dr Trust (USA) Waterproof Flexible Tip Digital Thermometer.
