Solution Found!
Answer: Suppose that water is used in a thermometer
Chapter 15, Problem 52E(choose chapter or problem)
Problem 52E
Suppose that water is used in a thermometer instead of mercury. If the temperature is at 4°C and then changes, why can’t the thermometer indicate whether the temperature is rising or falling?
Questions & Answers
QUESTION:
Problem 52E
Suppose that water is used in a thermometer instead of mercury. If the temperature is at 4°C and then changes, why can’t the thermometer indicate whether the temperature is rising or falling?
ANSWER:
Solution
Step 1 of 2
Thermometers measure temperature by the shrinkage and expansion of the working fluid inside the thermometer.
When we use water has the working fluid. Since at 4the water has maximum density , any change in temperature from 4 will result in the expanding of the water. Therefore after 4 it will rise if it cools or rise even if is heated. So past 4, it would only move up, even when we want that to move down for cooling and move upward for heating. So the water filled thermometer at 4 would expand as the water is cooled or heated.