Question

A mercury thermometer contains 800 mm³ of mercury. The inside of the thermometer tube has a cross-sectional area of 0.50 mm² . (The volume expansion coefficient for mercury is 1.81×10⁻⁴ °C⁻¹.)

What should the spacing between the °C marks be?

Answer 1

To determine the spacing between the °C marks on the thermometer, we need to calculate the change in volume of the mercury for a 1 °C change in temperature.

Step-by-step explanation:

To determine the spacing between the °C marks on the thermometer, we need to calculate the change in volume of the mercury for a 1 °C change in temperature.

The volume expansion coefficient of mercury is given as 1.81×10⁻⁴ °C⁻¹. This means that for every 1 °C increase in temperature, the volume of the mercury will increase by 1.81×10⁻⁴ times its original volume.

Using the given information, we can calculate the change in volume and divide it by the desired change in temperature to find the spacing between the °C marks.