Does a thermometer measure its own temperature or the temperature of its surroundings? Explain.
Answer to Problem 1FTD
Explanation of Solution
The principle of working of thermometer is actually based on the expansion of mercury in temperature. When mercury is allowed to heat it undergoes expansion. The mercury expands until it is in thermal equilibrium with heat of radiation which is in contact. The thermometer calibrated to measure that temperature.
If a thermometer is placed in sun radiation the mercury absorbs that radiation and expands until it is in thermal equilibrium. Therefore it shows a greater temperature than the air temperature. Therefore thermometer measures the temperature of the mercury rather than temperature of the surroundings.
Conclusion:
Thus, a thermometer measures its own temperature rather than surrounding temperature.
Want to see more full solutions like this?
Chapter 16 Solutions
Essential University Physics
Additional Science Textbook Solutions
College Physics
College Physics: A Strategic Approach (4th Edition)
An Introduction to Thermal Physics
University Physics Volume 2
Physics for Scientists and Engineers with Modern Physics
- Suppose that the average velocity (vrms) of carbon dioxide molecules (molecular mass is equal to 44.0g/mol ) in a ?ame is found to be 1.05105m/s. What temperature does this represent?arrow_forwardWhat is the distinction between gas and vapor?arrow_forwardCompare the SI units of specific heat and latent heat and explain any differences.arrow_forward
- The height of the Washington Monument is measured to be 170 m on a day when the temperature is 35.0C. What will its height be on a day when the temperature falls to 10.0C ? Although the monument is made of limestone, assume that its thermal coefficient of expansion is the same as marble's.arrow_forwardReview. A 670-kg meteoroid happens to be composed of aluminum. When it is far from the Earth, its temperature is 15.0C and it moves at 14.0 km/s relative to the planet. As it crashes into the Earth, assume the internal energy transformed from the mechanical energy of the meteoroid-Earth system is shared equally between the meteoroid and the Earth and all the material of the meteoroid rises momentarily to the same final temperature. Find this temperature. Assume the specific heat of liquid and of gaseous aluminum is 1 170 J/kg C.arrow_forwardStars A and B have the same temperature, but star A has twice the radius of star B. (a) What is the ratio of star As power output to star Bs output due to electromagnetic radiation? The emissivity of both stars can be assumed to be 1. (b) Repeat the question if the stars have the same radius, but star A has twice the absolute temperature of star B. (c) Whats the ratio if star A has both twice the radius and twice the absolute temperature of star B?arrow_forward
- Suppose a person is covered head to foot by wool clothing with average thickness of 2.00 cm and is transferring energy by conduction through the clothing at the rate of 50.0 W. What is the temperature difference across the clothing, given the surface area is 1.40 m2?arrow_forwardA sample of gas with a thermometer immersed in the gas is held over a hot plate. A student is asked to give a step-by-step account of what makes our observation of the temperature of the gas increase. His response includes the following steps, (a) The molecules speed up. (b) Then the molecules collide with one another more often. (c) Internal friction makes the collisions inelastic, (d) Heat is produced in the collisions. (e) The molecules of the gas transfer more energy to the thermometer when they strike it, so we observe that the temperature has gone up. (f) The same process can take place without the use of a hot plate if you quickly push in the piston in an insulated cylinder containing the gas. (i) Which of the parts (a) througharrow_forwardA pitcher throws a 0.142-kg baseball at 47.2 m/s. As it travels 16.8 m to home plate, the ball slows down to 42.5 m/s because of air resistance. Find the change in temperature of the air through which it passes. To find the greatest possible temperature change, you may make the following assumptions. Air has a molar specific heat of CP = 72IR and an equivalent molar mass of 28.9 g/mol. The process is so rapid that the cover of the baseball acts as thermal insulation and the temperature of the ball itself does not change. A change in temperature happens initially only for the air in a cylinder 16.8 m in length and 3.70 cm in radius. This air is initially at 20.0C.arrow_forward
- Why is a person able to remove a piece of dry aluminum foil from a hot oven with bare fingers, whereas a burn results if there is moisture on the foil?arrow_forwardIs a uniform-temperature gas more or less orderly than one with several different temperatures? Which is more structured? In which can heat transfer result in work done without heat transfer from another system?arrow_forwardAt what net rate does heat radiate from a 275m2 black roof on a night when the roof’s temperature is 30.0C and the surrounding temperature is 15.0C ? The emissivity of the roof is 0.900.arrow_forward
- College PhysicsPhysicsISBN:9781938168000Author:Paul Peter Urone, Roger HinrichsPublisher:OpenStax CollegeGlencoe Physics: Principles and Problems, Student...PhysicsISBN:9780078807213Author:Paul W. ZitzewitzPublisher:Glencoe/McGraw-HillPrinciples of Physics: A Calculus-Based TextPhysicsISBN:9781133104261Author:Raymond A. Serway, John W. JewettPublisher:Cengage Learning
- An Introduction to Physical SciencePhysicsISBN:9781305079137Author:James Shipman, Jerry D. Wilson, Charles A. Higgins, Omar TorresPublisher:Cengage LearningPhysics for Scientists and Engineers: Foundations...PhysicsISBN:9781133939146Author:Katz, Debora M.Publisher:Cengage Learning