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Temperature Variations & Limitations of Touch in Accurate Temperature Measurement
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- Objects around us possess different temperatures, some feeling warm, others cold.
- The Reliability of Touch: Judging temperature solely by touch can be deceptive.
- An experiment involving the immersion of hands in hot and cold water and then in lukewarm water illustrates this.
- Our sense of touch isn’t always an accurate indicator of an object’s temperature. Understanding temperature measurement, facilitated by tools like laboratory and clinical thermometers, becomes essential in unraveling the true thermal dynamics of objects and environments
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The Science of Temperature Measurement
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Laboratory Thermometers: Features, Usage, and Environmental Considerations
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- Introduction to Thermometers: A thermometer is a pivotal tool for temperature Measurement.
- Measuring Temperature: A laboratory thermometer is an instrument used to measure the temperature of various objects, differing from the clinical thermometer, which is used specifically for measuring human body temperature.
- Features and Range: The laboratory thermometer typically has a range from –10°C to 110°C.
- Understanding how much a small division on this thermometer represents for accurate readings is essential.
- Usage: To measure the temperature using a laboratory thermometer, immerse its bulb in the substance (e.g., water) ensuring it doesn’t touch the container’s sides or bottom.
- Hold the thermometer vertically and wait for the mercury level to stabilise.
- Read the temperature while the thermometer is still immersed.
- The reason is that the mercury level starts to change once removed from the substance.
- This characteristic makes the laboratory thermometer inconvenient for measuring body temperature since, unlike the clinical thermometer, you can’t read it once removed from the source.
- Comparison with Clinical Thermometer: Clinical thermometers have a unique feature – a kink near the bulb.
- This kink prevents the mercury level from falling on its own, allowing the temperature to be read even after removing it from the mouth.
- This is why clinical thermometers are more suitable for measuring body temperature, whereas laboratory thermometers are not.
- Environmental Concerns: Given the environmental hazards associated with mercury, which is toxic and challenging to dispose of, there are concerns about its use in thermometers.
- Consequently, there is a growing shift towards digital thermometers that eliminate the use of mercury, aligning with environmentally conscious practices in temperature measurement technology.
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Clinical Thermometer: Design, Procedure, and Limitations for Accurate Body Temperature Measurement
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- The clinical thermometer is designed specifically to gauge body temperature.
- Structure and Reading: This thermometer comprises a glass tube with a mercury-filled bulb at one end.
- The readings are taken on the Celsius scale (°C).
- Its measurement range is restricted between 35°C and 42°C, corresponding to the typical human body temperature spectrum.
- Procedure to Measure Body Temperature: To ascertain body temperature, place the thermometer’s bulb under the tongue for a minute and then observe the mercury level.
- The average body temperature hovers around 37°C.
- However, individual temperatures might have minor deviations.
- Usage Limitations: A clinical thermometer’s design is specialised for human body temperature measurements.
- Using it for other purposes, like gauging the temperature of boiling liquids, is inadvisable.
- Additionally, to prevent damage, avoid exposing the thermometer to excessive heat or direct sunlight, ensuring reliable and consistent temperature measurements in various healthcare scenarios.
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