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Chapter 16: Problem 1

Does a thermometer measure its own temperature or the temperature of its surroundings? Explain.

Short Answer

Expert verified
A thermometer measures the temperature of its surroundings, not its own temperature. The heat exchange between the thermometer and its surroundings leads to thermal equilibrium, and the resultant temperature is what the thermometer reads.

Step by step solution

01

Understand the Function of a Thermometer

A thermometer operates based on the principle of thermal equilibrium. That is, when two bodies are in contact, heat will flow from the hotter body to the cooler one until their temperatures equalize. Therefore, when a thermometer comes into contact with an object or is placed in a certain environment, it will absorb or lose heat until it reaches the same temperature as the object or environment.
02

Thermometer Measurements

When measuring temperature, the thermometer doesn't measure its own initial temperature. It measures the temperature of its surroundings or the body it is in contact with. As the thermometer absorbs or loses heat, the liquid inside the thermometer (usually mercury or alcohol) expands or contracts. The level of this liquid is then read off on a scale, which indicates the temperature.
03

Conclusion

So, a thermometer measures the temperature of whatever it is in contact with, not its own intrinsic temperature. Its own temperature changes to match that of its surroundings as it reaches thermal equilibrium.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

A constant-volume gas thermometer is filled with air whose pressure is \(101 \mathrm{kPa}\) at the normal melting point of ice. What would its pressure be at (a) the normal boiling point of water \((373 \mathrm{~K}),(b)\) the normal boiling point of oxygen \((90.2 \mathrm{~K})\), and \((\mathrm{c})\) the normal boiling point of mercury \((630 \mathrm{~K})\) ?

What is the difference between heat energy and internal energy?

What's the specific heat of a material if it takes \(7.5 \mathrm{~kJ}\) to increase the temperature of a \(1-\mathrm{kg}\) sample by \(3.0^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\) ?

Glass and fiberglass are made from the same material, yet have dramatically different thermal conductivities. Why?

The normal boiling point of nitrogen is \(77.3 \mathrm{~K}\). Express this in Celsius and Fahrenheit.
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