Why a thin glass bulb makes a clinical thermometer more sensitive?

Using a thermometer with a smaller bulb – A smaller bulb contains less mercury and therefore absorbs heat in a shorter moment in time.

Why is a bulb of a clinical thermometer made of metal?

Mercury is a metal which exists in liquid form at room temperature . It is a shiny liquid metal with a high coefficient of expansion. It also has a high boiling point which is suitable for measurement of higher temperatures. Therefore, mercury is the metal used in the bulb of the thermometer.

Why the thermometer has thick walls on its stem?

Answer The stem of the thermometre made up of thick. 2 For holding mercury which is poisonous as well as to give a magnifying effect while reading .

What makes a clinical thermometer sensitive?

It is determined by the ratio between the volume of the bulb and the volume of the capillary tube that contains the mercury column. To make a thermometer more sensitive, you increase the ratio by making the bulb bigger or the capillary tube smaller in diameter.

How is a more sensitive thermometer different from a less sensitive thermometer?

A sensitive thermometer gives a more noticeable expansion (large increase in the length of the mercury thread) for small changes in temperature.

Why the tube of a clinical thermometer is thin?

The thermometer is made relatively small so that it is portable and cheap. The liquid is contained in a thin-walled glass bulb. The bulb is made relatively larger than its bore to contain more of the liquid, so as to improve sensitivity. The narrow bore of the capillary tube is uniform.

Which metal is used in the bulb?

tungsten
It contains a thin coil of wire called the filament. This heats up when an electric current passes through it and produces light as a result. Incandescent light bulbs have filaments which are made mainly from the element tungsten, the metal element used for the filaments in incandescent light bulbs.

Why the bore of the capillary tube is narrow in a thermometer?

The narrow bore of te capillary tube makes the thermometer more sensitive. This is because a small expansion of the mercury in the bulb will cause a big change in the length of the mercury thread. The bulb is made of thin glass so that heat can be conducted quickly to the liquid.

What is the bulb of the thermometer?

mercury
The bulb in a thermometer is filled with mercury. When the bulb is heated mercury in the bulb expands and rises up in the capillary tube. The height of the mercury gives the reading of temperature.

Why mercury is used in thermometer?

Mercury is the only one in liquid state at room temperature. It’s used in thermometers because it has high coefficient of expansion. Hence, the slightest change in temperature is notable when it’s used in a thermometer. It also has a high boiling point which makes it very suitable to measure higher temperatures.

What features affect the sensitivity of a thermometer?

Some of the factors which increase sensitivity are:

• Using a thermometer with a smaller glass bulb, as a smaller bulb contains less liquid and therefore, absorbs heat in a shorter time.
• Using a narrow tube, as a small change in volume results in the liquid moving a larger distance along the tube.

Why is the bulb of thermometer made of thin glass?

Why is the bulb of thermometer made of thin glass? The bulb thermometer is made of thin glass so as to detect the slightest change in temperature. It is made of thin glass for visibility as well. So the we’ll be able to see inside it.

How does a liquid thermometer work?

The bulb is made of thin glass so that heat can be conducted quickly to the liquid.Mercury is one of the most familiar materials used in liquid thermometers. Other liquids, such as kerosene or ethanol, may also be used in these types of thermometers. When heat rises, the liquid expands from a bowl or bulb into the empty area, climbing up the tube.

Why does a thermometer have a narrow bore?

The narrow bore of te capillary tube makes the thermometer more sensitive. This is because a small expansion of the mercury in the bulb will cause a big change in the length of the mercury thread.