Is a mercury thermometer more accurate?

Is a mercury thermometer more accurate?

But mercury thermometers also have real advantages over the alternatives. They’re often cheaper and more accurate, especially at higher temperatures. And unlike one common alternative, electronic thermometers, they’re self-contained (no wires sticking out) and require no power.

What is more accurate digital or mercury thermometer?

The digital thermometer is not only faster on body temperature measurement results providing, but also better accuracy results to us. Based on the tested records of the experiments, the accuracy of a digital thermometer could be 0.1℃. The accuracy is better than the normal mercury thermometer.

What are the advantages of mercury thermometer?

Advantages

• It is a good conductor of heat and hence, can measure even high temperatures.
• It gives results quickly – has a fast response time.
• It expands linearly and less than alcohol and any other liquid.
• It is more durable than alcohol thermometer because mercury does not evaporate easily.

How do I know if my mercury thermometer is accurate?

Insert the thermometer stem or probe 2″ into the center of the ice bath and stir gently for another 15 seconds, keeping the stem surrounded by the ice cubes and moving constantly. An accurate thermometer will read 32°F. Don’t let the thermometer rest against the ice or you’ll get a low reading.

Why do we prefer mercury thermometer over alcohol thermometer?

There is a technical reason for using mercury in clinical thermometers. Mercury has a greater coefficient of thermal expansion than alcohol. This means a column of mercury will expand and rise more than a column of alcohol for the same temperature change. As a result, you can get finer readings with mercury.

What does mercury do in a thermometer?

In a mercury thermometer, a glass tube is filled with mercury and a standard temperature scale is marked on the tube. With changes in temperature, the mercury expands and contracts, and the temperature can be read from the scale. Mercury thermometers can be used to determine body, liquid, and vapor temperature.

What is mercury thermometer used for?

Best used to measure high temperatures, mercury thermometers are still widely used in meteorology and in high temperature places such as autoclaves, which are high-pressure vessels used to sterilize or process equipment.

What elements are in a thermometer?

Thermometers consist of three basic elements: spirit-filled liquid, which responds to changes in heat and cold; a glass tube to house the temperature-measuring liquid; and black ink to color in the engraved scale marks with legible numbers.