Mercury-in-glass thermometer
Mercury-in-glass thermometer
A Mercury-in-glass thermometer (pronunciation: /ˈmɝːkjʊri ɪn ɡlæs θɝːˈmɑːmɪtɝ/), also known as a mercury thermometer, is a type of thermometer that uses mercury in a glass tube to measure temperature.
Etymology
The term "Mercury-in-glass thermometer" is derived from its construction method. The mercury (from the Latin mercurius, named after the Roman god Mercury) is contained within a glass (from the Old English glæs) tube, and the changes in its volume are used to measure temperature.
Design and Function
A Mercury-in-glass thermometer consists of a bulb containing mercury attached to a glass tube of narrow diameter. The volume of mercury in the tube is much less than the volume in the bulb. The volume of mercury changes slightly with temperature; the small change in volume drives the narrow mercury column a relatively long way up the tube. The space above the mercury may be filled with nitrogen gas or it may be at less than atmospheric pressure, a partial vacuum.
Related Terms
- Thermometer: An instrument for measuring and indicating temperature.
- Mercury: A heavy, silvery d-block element, mercury is the only metallic element that is liquid at standard conditions for temperature and pressure.
- Glass: A non-crystalline, often transparent amorphous solid, that has widespread practical, technological, and decorative use in things like window panes, tableware, and optics.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Mercury-in-glass thermometer
- Wikipedia's article - Mercury-in-glass thermometer
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