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Range Sensitivity and Linearity

The document discusses properties of thermometers, including range, linearity, and sensitivity. Range is defined as the difference between the maximum and minimum measurable temperatures. The range of a liquid-in-glass thermometer can be increased by using a wider diameter capillary tube or smaller bulb volume, as less liquid will travel along the tube with temperature changes. Linearity means a consistent change in the physical property (liquid position) with changes in temperature. Sensitivity is the amount of change in the physical property per degree of temperature change.

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Sukanya Vedavyasa
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772 views

Range Sensitivity and Linearity

The document discusses properties of thermometers, including range, linearity, and sensitivity. Range is defined as the difference between the maximum and minimum measurable temperatures. The range of a liquid-in-glass thermometer can be increased by using a wider diameter capillary tube or smaller bulb volume, as less liquid will travel along the tube with temperature changes. Linearity means a consistent change in the physical property (liquid position) with changes in temperature. Sensitivity is the amount of change in the physical property per degree of temperature change.

Uploaded by

Sukanya Vedavyasa
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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PROPERTIES OF THERMOMETER

1.RANGE
Definition: The range of a thermometer is the difference between
the maximum and minimum temperatures that the thermometer can read.
OR
Definition: The range is the difference between the maximum temperature and minimum
temperature it can measure.

Wide range means large difference between highest and lowest measurable
temperatures.
The range of a liquid-in-glass thermometer is limited by the length of the
thermometer and can be increased by:
1.increasing the diameter of the capillary – this means that the liquid will not
expand as far along the tube per degree rise in temperature
2.decreasing the volume of the bulb – this means there is less liquid and so it will
not travel as far along the capillary tube as it is heated.

2.LINEAR
Linear means same change of physical property for same change of temperature.
OR
Linearity is when a given change in temperature causes the same change in length.
 liquid-in-glass thermometer is said to be linear if the liquid expands by the same
amount for every degree Celsius rise in temperature. This means that the scale will
be marked in degrees of equal size (as below).

3.SENSITIVITY
Large change of physical property for small change of temperature.
OR
Sensitivity is the change in length per change in temperature
OR
Distance moved by the thread per °C OR per unit temperature change

The sensitivity of a liquid-in-glass thermometer can be increased by:


1.decreasing the diameter of the capillary – this means that the liquid will expand
as far along the tube per degree rise in temperature
2.increasing the volume of the bulb – this means there is more liquid and so it will
travel as far along the capillary tube as it is heated.

Question: State and explain the effect on the range of the thermometer of using a smaller bulb
that contains less mercury
Answer:
(range) increases and less expansion/increase in volume (of mercury per unit temperature rise)

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