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Article:
How to Make a Thermometer
by James Hunt
A thermometer is an instrument that measures the temperature. Depending on
what country you live in, temperature is measured either in a scale called
Fahrenheit or Celsius (sometimes called Centigrade). There are thermometers
for food, humans, and the weather. You can even make a thermometer yourself,
it's simple.
Here's what you'll need:
- Water (plain old tap water will do just fine for this experiment.)
- Rubbing alcohol
- 1 clear plastic bottle with a narrow neck
- Food coloring in your choice of color
- See-through plastic drinking straw
- Modeling clay.
Pour equal parts of the water and alcohol and a couple of drops of food
coloring into the bottle (the liquid should only fill up about a quarter of
the bottle.) and give it a shake to mix. Drop the straw into the bottle (it
should touch the bottom) and plug the opening with the clay. That's all
there is to it. Now it's time to make sure your thermometer works. What
happens when you place it in direct sunlight and the liquid becomes warmer?
If your thermometer works properly, the colored liquid will rise up through
the straw. In fact, if the liquid were to become extremely hot, the liquid
would most likely come out the top of the straw.
Bring your thermometer outside with you. How does the colored water react
inside the straw? Does it go up or down? Run it under warm water and then
cold, the colored water will react accordingly. Of course this isn't an
accurate measure of water temperature, and there's no way of telling how hot
or cold the water actually is, but this should give you some idea of how a
thermometer works.
Making a thermometer is a great rainy day craft for kids. It's easy, quick
and in most cases involves items found around the house. Why not make it
your next project?
James Hunt has spent 15 years as a professional writer and researcher
covering stories that cover a whole spectrum of interest.
Read more at
www.thermometers-central.info
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