/*! This file is auto-generated */ .wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none} Problem 15 Suppose mercury and glass had th... [FREE SOLUTION] | 91影视

91影视

Log out

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 17: Problem 15

Suppose mercury and glass had the same coefficient of volume expansion. Could you build a mercury thermometer?

Short Answer

Expert verified
No, a mercury thermometer couldn't be built if mercury and glass had the same coefficient of volume expansion because there would be no noticeable expansion of mercury relative to the glass walls to indicate a temperature change.

Step by step solution

01

Understand the operation of a Thermometer

A liquid-in-glass thermometer works on the principle of thermal expansion. The thermometer contains a bulb filled with a liquid (usually mercury or alcohol) which expands or contracts with temperature changes. The bulb is attached to a narrow tube (capillary), and as the temperature goes up, the liquid expands and rises in the tube, indicating a higher temperature.
02

The Role of Coefficient of Volume Expansion

The coefficient of volume expansion tells us how much a certain volume of material will expand (or contract) for each degree increase (or decrease) in temperature. In a typical mercury thermometer, the glass bulb and tube expand when heated, but the mercury expands more at the same temperature due to a larger coefficient of volume expansion. This is why mercury rises in the capillary.
03

Analysis

If mercury and glass had the same coefficient of volume expansion, they would expand at the same rate when heated. Therefore, the volume of mercury that appeared to increase with temperature in the narrow tube would be nullified by the expansion of the glass. In simpler terms, if both glass and mercury expand equally, there'd be no relative change in the level of mercury observable against the scale placed on the thermometer. Hence, such a device would not work as a thermometer.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with 91影视!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

How does a pressure cooker work?

Evaporation of sweat is the human body's cooling mechanism. At body temperature, it takes 2.4 MJ/kg to evaporate water. Marathon runners typically lose about 3 L of sweat each hour. How much energy gets lost to sweating during a 3 -hour marathon?

Two different gases are at the same temperature, and both have low enough densities that they behave like ideal gases. Do their molecules have the same thermal speeds? Explain.

If the volume of an ideal gas is increased, must the pressure drop proportionately? Explain.

Ice and water have been together in a glass for a long time. Is the water hotter than the ice?
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Physics Textbooks

Medical Physics

Read Explanation

Electricity and Magnetism

Read Explanation

Space Physics

Read Explanation

Solid State Physics

Read Explanation

Turning Points in Physics

Read Explanation

Magnetism and Electromagnetic Induction

Read Explanation
View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.