TECHNICAL ENGINEERING COLLEGE

PETROCHEMICAL DEPARTMENT

Thermodynamic Lab
First Class 2017 - 2018

Experiment No. 1
“Use of a Mercury-in-Glass thermometer to Demonstrate
temperature scales and fixed points”
1. Objective:
To demonstrate the application of temperature scale and fixed points using a mercury-in-
glass thermometer.

2. Equipment Set-Up:-

3. Addition:-
1- Water.
2- Crushed Ice (made from pure water).
3- Sodium Chloride.
4- Barometer (optional).

4. Introduction:
In many engineering systems temperature constitutes an important physical variable that needs to
be monitored and controlled. For example, temperature sensors are present in buildings, chemical
processing plants, engines, computers, vehicles, etc. Many physical phenomena, (e.g., pressure,
volume, electrical resistance, expansion coefficients, etc.) can be related to temperature through
the fundamental molecular structure. Temperature variations affect these quantities, and hence
their changes can be used to indirectly measure temperature. Temperature measurement devices
can be classified as mechanically operative (mercury thermometer and bimetallic strip) or
electrically operative (resistance temperature detector, thermistor, and thermocouple).
 Liquid thermometer: practically all liquids can be used in thermometers but other liquids
(except mercury) cause additional errors as the temperature drops. And must be colored so that it
is visible in the capillary tube and the reading of the temperature made easier. Liquid containers
for mercury are larger than for other liquids due to the smaller coefficient of expansion.

5. Procedure:-
“Student must write the procedure in steps form”
Fill the water heater with clean water, place the heater in its retaining bracket and connect the
power cord to the receptacle in its base. Place the platen on the lower support bracket above the
water heater. Half fill the vacuum flask with a mixture of crushed ice and pure water (the ice being
made from pure water and crushed into fin particles'). Ensure that the handle of the flask is located
in the spigot protruding from the back board and secure the clamp at the base. Remove the
mercury-in-glass thermometer from its storage case on the backboard. Close inspection will reveal
a column of mercury protruding from the bulb.
Temperature measurement is effected by relating the length of this column to an engraved scale
on the glass. Read the temperature indicated by the column at ambient air temperature. Insert the
bulb of the thermometer into the water-ice mixture, stirring gently to ensure intimate contact with
the mixture, observe that the reading on the thermometer is 0oC.
Partially unscrew the top portion of the gland fitted to the platen and moisten the ‘O’ ring within
the gland carefully insert the bulb of the mercury-in-glass thermometer into the gland, ensuring
the bulb is immersed in the water. Carefully tighten the gland to retain the thermometer.
Operate the rocker switch adjacent to the water heater power regulator (neon illuminated) and turn
the regulator clockwise. Wait until the water in the heater reaches boiling point, indicated by a
rapid motion of the water surface, and observe that the reading on the thermometer is 100oC.
Repeat the readings in ice and boiling water and observe that the reading are consistently 0oC and
100oC respectively.

6. Conclusions & Comments :

Write your notes and discuss the results.