Why is a mercury thermometer more accurate?

Mercury thermometers are designed utilizing the idea that mercury expands with heat. Mercury is used because it remains liquid throughout various temperatures as opposed to water, which freezes in colder temperatures. Mercury thermometers are also designed to withstand boiling temperatures.

Are mercury based thermometers accurate?

Mercury thermometers provide accurate temperature readings and can be used orally, rectally, or under the arm. They don’t require batteries.

How do you accurately measure temperature?

Oral (by mouth) is the most common method of taking a temperature. For you to get an accurate reading, the person must be able to breathe through their nose. If they can’t, then use the rectum, ear, or armpit to take the temperature.

Which is more accurate mercury or alcohol thermometer?

It is more durable than alcohol thermometer because mercury does not evaporate easily. It is smaller in size as compared to alcohol one. Mercury does not wet the wall of the thermometer, which means that results can be highly accurate.

Can mercury thermometer show wrong temperature?

In an ideal condition, the results are accurate. Many people think it inaccurate mainly because they use the instruments in the wrong way. There are too many factors affecting the forehead temperature, including room temperature, skin dryness, and more.

Which thermometer is accurate digital or mercury?

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 is a mercury thermometer?

A mercury thermometer is used to measure the temperature of the human body. It consists of mercury-filled in a glass capillary tube where a temperature scale is marked in degree Celsius or Fahrenheit. The mercury inside the tube expands or contracts based on the changes in temperature readings.

Why is it better to take an alcohol thermometer instead of a mercury thermometer while you travel to the mountain region?

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. Mercury is poisonous, and a broken thermometer in the mouth is not good.

Why is alcohol thermometer better than mercury thermometer?

Unlike mercury in the mercury thermometer, alcohol is less toxic and evaporates quickly. But the maximum temperature measured by an alcohol thermometer is 78.5°C; hence this thermometer is suitable for measuring lower temperatures.

Why does only mercury is used in a thermometer?

Mercury is the only one in liquid state at room temperature. It’s used in thermometers because it has high coefficient of expansion. Hence, the slightest change in temperature is notable when it’s used in a thermometer. It also has a high boiling point which makes it very suitable to measure higher temperatures.

What is the purpose of mercury in a thermometer?

A medical mercury-in-glass maximum thermometer showing the temperature of 38.7 °C. One special kind of mercury-in-glass thermometer, called a maximum thermometer, works by having a constriction in the neck close to the bulb. As the temperature rises, the mercury is pushed up through the constriction by the force of expansion.

What is the principle of a mercury thermometer?

The Basic Principle of a Mercury Thermometer All thermometers work on the principle that warm fluids occupy more space than cold fluids . Since we know how much space a fluid such as mercury will fill at any given temperature, we are therefore able to determine the temperature of that fluid by measuring how much space it takes up.

What type of mercury is in a thermometer?

There are two general types of mercury thermometers that measure body temperature: oral/rectal/baby thermometers, containing about 0.61 grams of mercury. basal temperature thermometers (used to track slight changes in body temperature), containing about 2.25 grams of mercury.