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Calibrating Thermometers Investigation I

Testing an unmarked thermometer in freezing and boiling water



  1. Watch your teacher demonstrate how to use the temperature probe. Refer to Technical Hints to see how to use the DataLogger software to record temperature.

  2. Watch as your teacher places a standard thermometer in the boiling water. Note the reading on the standard thermometer. Did the thermometer read as you expected? Next, watch as your teacher places the unmarked glass tube in the boiling point of water. Your teacher will mark the level to which the liquid rises. Notice that the teacher is using a fine point pen to provide a small mark locating the boiling point. What Celsius value does this represent? Discuss with your group why this is necessary.

  3. Your teacher will now place your temperature probe in the boiling water while running the DataLogger software on your computer. Refer to Technical Hints to see how to view data. Compare the predicted value of the boiling point with that provided by the probe.

  4. Place the marked thermometer in a container of ice water. Wait until the liquid inside the thermometer stops falling. Note the temperature. Is it what you expected? Place the unmarked thermometer with cork in a container of ice water. Once the thermometer stabilizes, mark very carefully the freezing point of the ice water. What Celsius value does this represent? Next, place the temperature probe in the ice water while running the DataLogger software on your computer. Compare the predicted value of the freezing point with that provided by the probe.

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