Unit 2: Practical Scientific Procedures and Techniques
Learning Aim B: Undertake calorimetry to study cooling curves.
Thermometers:
Thermometers are devices used to measure temperature. There are different types of
thermometers such as liquid filled consisting of alcohol in glass and mercury in glass, electronic
thermometer consisting of resistance, thermocouple, rotary and infra-red. These different
types of thermometers are used to measure the temperature of various things such as body
temperature, fridge-freezers, furnaces, ovens etc.
Calibration of thermometer:
A thermometer is calibrated to ensure that the thermometer is recording the correct
temperature. Calibrating the thermometer will also show if there are any errors in the
thermometer that may affect the reading of temperature.
The method of calibrating a thermometer is by placing the thermometer in ice(0 C°) and
boiling water (100 C°). This way you can check both freezing point and boiling point of the
thermometer. Fill your beaker up with ice or boiling water and then place the thermometer
inside it. Wait for 30 seconds and record the temperature. Repeat these steps three times and
take the mean value of the results.
Freezing point
Thermometer 1st Reading 2nd Reading 3rd Reading Average
Alcohol 0 C° -3 C° 0 C° -1 C°
Mercury 0.1 C° 1 C° 0 C° 0.36 C°
Digital 0.9 C° 0.8 C° 0.9 C° 0.8 C°
Boiling point
Thermometer 1st Reading 2nd Reading 3rd Reading Average
Alcohol 100 C° 94 C° 94 C° 96 C°
Mercury 96 C° 99 C° 99 C° 98 C°
Digital 96 C° 96.2 C° 99 C° 97.06 C°
Learning Aim B: Undertake calorimetry to study cooling curves.
Thermometers:
Thermometers are devices used to measure temperature. There are different types of
thermometers such as liquid filled consisting of alcohol in glass and mercury in glass, electronic
thermometer consisting of resistance, thermocouple, rotary and infra-red. These different
types of thermometers are used to measure the temperature of various things such as body
temperature, fridge-freezers, furnaces, ovens etc.
Calibration of thermometer:
A thermometer is calibrated to ensure that the thermometer is recording the correct
temperature. Calibrating the thermometer will also show if there are any errors in the
thermometer that may affect the reading of temperature.
The method of calibrating a thermometer is by placing the thermometer in ice(0 C°) and
boiling water (100 C°). This way you can check both freezing point and boiling point of the
thermometer. Fill your beaker up with ice or boiling water and then place the thermometer
inside it. Wait for 30 seconds and record the temperature. Repeat these steps three times and
take the mean value of the results.
Freezing point
Thermometer 1st Reading 2nd Reading 3rd Reading Average
Alcohol 0 C° -3 C° 0 C° -1 C°
Mercury 0.1 C° 1 C° 0 C° 0.36 C°
Digital 0.9 C° 0.8 C° 0.9 C° 0.8 C°
Boiling point
Thermometer 1st Reading 2nd Reading 3rd Reading Average
Alcohol 100 C° 94 C° 94 C° 96 C°
Mercury 96 C° 99 C° 99 C° 98 C°
Digital 96 C° 96.2 C° 99 C° 97.06 C°
