Sorting Task: Temperature Scales

In astronomy you may hear temperatures quoted on any of three different temperature scales: the Fahrenheit scale used commonly in the United States, the Celsius scale used internationally, and the Kelvin scale used in science.

Part A
Each of the following items states a temperature, but does not tell you whether the temperature is measured on the Fahrenheit, Celsius, or Kelvin scale. Match the items to the appropriate temperature scale.

Hint 1. Comparing temperatures on the three temperature scales

You can use a formula to convert temperatures from one scale to another, but theres an even easier way: Just compare thermometers marked with temperatures on all three scales. The following figure shows this comparison for selected temperatures, from which you should be able to sort the list items in the appropriate bin.

Hint 2. What is the boiling temperature of water on the Fahrenheit scale?

On the Fahrenheit scale, water boils at a temperature of _____. ANSWER: 32 98.6 212 373

Hint 3. What is the freezing temperature of water on the Fahrenheit scale?

On the Fahrenheit scale, water freezes at a temperature of _____. ANSWER: 32 98.6 212 373

ANSWER:

Correct

Video Tutor: Heating Water and Aluminum

First, launch the video below. You will be asked to use your knowledge of physics to predict the outcome of an experiment. Then, close the video window and answer the question on the right. You can watch the video again at any point.

Part A
Suppose that we replace the aluminum with a mystery metal and repeat the experiment in the video. As in the video, the mass of the metal is the same as that of the water. Room temperature is about 20 before the start of the experiment. The water heats up to 40 , and the mystery metal heats up to 80 . Compared to that of water, the heat capacity of our mystery metal is

Hint 1. How to approach the problem

Recall that the heat capacity. ANSWER: delivered to a substance can be written = , where is the mass of the substance and is its heat

two times greater. the same. three times greater. one-third as great. half as great.

Correct
Given the same input of energy, the temperature of the metal increased three times as much as the temperature of the water. Therefore, the metal has one-third the heat capacity of water. (Recall that the heat delivered to a substance can be written = , where is the mass of the substance and is its heat capacity.)

Video: How a Thermostat Works

Watch the video, and then answer the following questions.

Part A
What kind of strip is Dr. Hewitt holding in his hand?

Hint 1. Strip expanding in length or bending?

If the strip is made up of a single material, will it expand in length or will it also bend? ANSWER: a strip of steel a strip consisting of brass on one side and steel on the other, welded together a strip of brass

Correct
Correct answer! This is called a bimetallic strip.

Part B
What happens when Dr. Hewitt heats up the strip?

Hint 1. What is the effect of different expansion rates?

If the strip is made up of two different metals, what will the two materials expand at the same or different rates when heated? What could this possibly do to the shape of this strip? ANSWER: It becomes longer. It becomes shorter. It bends.

Correct

Part C
Why does the strip behave as it does when Dr. Hewitt heats it up?

Hint 1. Expansion
Do the materials expand the same amount when heated? If not, what will that do to the strip? ANSWER: Both metals contract equally. Both metals expand unequally. Both metals expand equally. One metal expands, and the other contracts. Both metals contract unequally.

Correct

Video Tutor: Water Balloon Held over Candle Flame

First, launch the video below. You will be asked to use your knowledge of physics to predict the outcome of an experiment. Then, close the video window and answer the question at right. You can watch the video again at any point.

Part A
Which of the following changes would make the water balloon more likely to pop? (Ignore effects of convection within the fluid.) Select all that apply.

Hint 1. How to approach the problem.

Recall that in the video, the water balloon did not pop because most of the candle's thermal energy went into heating the water. Let's think about the process in more detail. The high heat capacity of water means that the water in the balloon warmed only slowly. (Recall that the higher a substance's heat capacity, the less the substance's temperature will rise in response to a given input of heat.) Contact with this relatively cool water kept the balloon's thin rubber skin from getting hot enough to melt.

Rubber conducts heat more slowly than water. If you make the rubber skin of a water balloon thicker, will the skin be more likely or less likely to melt? Think about the conduction of heat across the skin between the hot side facing the candle and the cooler side in contact with water. ANSWER: Use a thicker balloon. Use a liquid that has a lower heat capacity than water. Use a liquid that has a higher heat capacity than water. Use a thinner balloon.

Correct
Using a liquid with a lower heat capacity than water means that the candle flame will raise the liquid's temperature more quickly than for water. A thicker balloon will conduct heat through to the liquid more slowly, so that the outer part of the balloon wall will heat up more quickly to its melting point.