Reading A Thermometer

The thermometer you will be using to measure water temperature is a Centigrade thermometer.  The Centigrade scale starts counting with zero (0) as the freezing point of water (not like 32 with the Fahrenheit scale).  With the Centigrade scale, 100 is the boiling point of water (instead of 212 with the Fahrenheit scale).

Each station has:

  • A beaker of cold water
  • A beaker of warm water
  • An empty beaker holding a thermometer
Notice that the thermometer is standing in a beaker.  The reason for this is the column of liquid in the thermometer gets bubbles in it if you lay the thermometer down in a horizontal position.  This ruins the thermometer.

With your group, look at the thermometer closely.

Notice:

  • The lowest number on the thermometer is '5', not 0.  This '5' stands for -5 degrees, Centigrade.
  • You will start measuring from 0 degrees, at the second mark.
  • Numbers are written every 5 degrees
  • There are 5 larger marks between numbers.  These marks are each 1 degree.

Practice:

Each team member should practice these steps.  Every reading should be recorded next to the measurer's name.

Remove the thermometer from the beaker.

  • Read the temperature.  Make sure that the level of the liquid is right in front of your eyes.  This will help you make an accurate reading. Record the temperature.
  • Put the thermometer in the cold water, and let it sit for a minute.  Read and record the temperature.
  • Put the thermometer in the warm water, and let it sit for a minute.  Read and record the temperature.
Give the thermometer to another group member, and repeat these steps.

When you are all done with your measurements, look at your data.
 

  • What was your lowest low temperature?
  • What was your highest low temperature?
  • What is the difference between these measurements?
  • What was your lowest high temperature?
  • What was your highest high temperature?
  • What is the difference between these measurements?
  • If there were differences, why do you think they occurred?
  • Take a piece of graph paper and graph your data points.

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