Question

A thermometer is a sealed, clear glass tube filled with liquid. The outside of the thermometer is marked with a numbered line called a scale. As the liquid inside the column gets warmer, the volume of the liquid expands and the height of the liquid increases.

Which property of the thermometer is lost when it is broken?
A The liquid no longer expands when warmed.
B The scale is no longer accurate.
C The temperature can no longer be determined
D The glass is no longer clear.

Answer 1

The most important property lost when a thermometer is broken is its ability to measure temperature.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a thermometer is broken, its ability to measure temperature is compromised. The liquid inside the thermometer, such as mercury or alcohol, which is typically dyed red for visibility, expands and contracts in response to temperature changes. If the thermometer is broken, the most critical property that is lost is the capacity to reliably indicate the temperature because the sealed system that contains the liquid and facilitates its expansion and contraction is disrupted. Thus, the correct answer is C: The temperature can no longer be determined.