8 Ia-2 Make a thermometer
Your teacher may watch to see if you can:
● follow instructions carefully.
Aim: use the idea of liquids expanding to make a thermometer.
Method
Apparatus Be very careful
● conical flask ● thin bore glass tubing fitted in a bung with the glass
tubing. It can
● large bowl ● coloured dye break easily.
● beaker ● ruler Mop up any spills
● crushed ice ● eye protection straight away.
● water ● marker pens
● water bath set to 50 °C
A Fill a bowl with crushed ice.
B Put a little coloured dye in the flask, and then fill it to the very top with cold water. Stand it in
the bowl of crushed ice.
C After 15 minutes, carefully push the rubber bung into the top of the flask. You should see the
coloured water in the glass tube. Mark the level of the water in the tube.
D Put the flask into a water bath and leave it for 15 minutes.
E After 15 minutes, mark the new level of the water in the glass tube.
F Divide the distance between your two marks into five equal divisions. Each division will
represent 10 degrees.
G Leave your flask on the bench for 15 minutes (or until the next lesson). Mark the new level of
the water.
Considering your results/conclusions
1 a What temperature does the bottom mark on your tube represent?
b What temperature does the top mark represent?
c How many degrees does each division represent?
2 What was the room temperature you measured using your thermometer?
3 Why did you only mark 10-degree divisions?
4 How could you work out how much the water rises for each degree?
Evaluation
5 Suggest why this is not a very accurate thermometer.
6 How could you change the thermometer to make it faster to use?
7 Suggest what problems you might have using this thermometer to measure the temperature
outdoors in the winter.
I can…
● follow instructions to make a thermometer
© Pearson Education Ltd 2014. Copying permitted for
purchasing institution only. This material is not copyright free. 2
8 Ia-2 Make a thermometer
● evaluate my thermometer and suggest improvements.
© Pearson Education Ltd 2014. Copying permitted for
purchasing institution only. This material is not copyright free. 3
