Why must the mercury bulb of the thermometer not touch the walls of the container(ex. beakers, test tubes...) when measuring the temperature of a liquid that is being heated?
Well, i mean it is inevitable right?
2007-07-14 16:39:17 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
if you want the temp of the liquid the bulb should only touch the liquid if you want the temp of the wall and the liquid then let it touch ( the walls are warmer if heating a test tube or cooler than the liquid if in ice)
2007-07-14 16:45:08 · answer #1 · answered by 037 G 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because of thermal leak! When you are trying to measure the temperature of a substance in a beaker, you are trying to measure the temperature of THE SUBSTANCE, NOT the temperature of the beaker. By not letting the thermometer touch the beaker itself is the best way to ensure accuracy. The beaker might not necessarily be the same temperature as the substance. They could be close and/or approaching equilibrium. So if you touch it, you might get a wrong reading.
2007-07-14 23:44:26 · answer #2 · answered by The Prince 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You want to measure the temperature of the liquid, you must avoid contaminating the reading by introducing the temperature of the beaker.
2007-07-18 19:51:23 · answer #3 · answered by johnandeileen2000 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the temp of the container is higher thn the temp of the liquid.
2007-07-14 23:43:10 · answer #4 · answered by Renaissance Man 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋