Contents
Key Stage 2
Meaning
A thermometer is a piece of equipment used to measure the temperature of an object.
About Thermometers
- You must be very careful with thermometers because they are usually made of glass which can break and cut you.
- Most thermometers have a range of temperatures they can measure and some temperatures they can't. If you put a glass thermometer in a fire it will melt.
- A thermometer can show a negative temperature because the Celsius scale was chosen to have water freezing as 0 degrees Celsius. So anything colder than freezing water is given a negative temperature.
Examples
- A scientist measured the temperature of the snow.
- A Doctor measured the temperature of their patient.
- A scientist wants to measure the temperature of the air in the laboratory.
Used in a Sentence
- A thermometer was used to measure the temperature of the snow.
- The temperature of the doctor's patient was found using a thermometer.
- The scientist's thermometer showed the temperature in the laboratory was 20°C.
Key Stage 3
Meaning
A thermometer is a measuring instrument used to measure the temperature of an object.
About Thermometers
- Thermometer usually give the temperature in degrees Celsius (°C).
- Thermometers are usually made of glass so caution must be taken when using them so that they do not break.
- Most thermometers have a range of temperatures they can measure and some temperatures they can't. If a glass thermometer is placed in a fire it will melt, so the temperature of the fire is beyond its range.
- A thermometer can show a negative temperature because the Celsius scale was chosen to have water freezing as 0 degrees Celsius. So anything colder than freezing water is given a negative temperature.
Key Stage 4
Meaning
A thermometer is a measuring instrument used to measure the temperature of an object.
About Thermometers
- Thermometers are usually made of glass so caution must be taken when using them so that they do not break.
- Most thermometers have a range of temperatures they can measure and some temperatures they can't so the correct range should be chosen for the experiment.
- A thermometer can show a negative temperature because the Celsius scale was chosen to have water freezing as 0 degrees Celsius. So anything colder than freezing water is given a negative temperature.
- The resolution of a thermometer may be 1°C or 0.1°C given a small space between the markings or 0.5°C or 0.05°C if those markings are spaced far apart and it can be clearly seen when the temperature is half way between markings.
- To use a thermometer accurately:
- It must not have any bubbles in the liquid inside. To remove the bubbles the thermometer may be shaken carefully to more the bubbles without breaking the thermometer.
- It must be calibrated by placing it in a known temperature and checking it reads the correct value for example the melting point or boiling point of water.
References
AQA
- Thermometers, accuracy and precision of, pages 10, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy 2, Hodder, AQA
- Thermometers, page 126, GCSE Biology; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Thermometers, page 18, 108, GCSE Chemistry; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Thermometers, page 233, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Thermometers, pages 41, 237, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy; Chemistry, CGP, AQA
- Thermometers, pages 41, 315, GCSE Chemistry, CGP, AQA
Edexcel
- Thermometers, page 110, GCSE Chemistry; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
- Thermometers, page 209, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
- Thermometers, page 323, GCSE Chemistry, CGP, Edexcel