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When the liquid in the thermometer gets warmer it expands. This means its volume increases. The only place for the extra volume to go is up the tube, so the level of liquid rises. When the liquid gets colder it contracts (reduces in volume) so it moves back down the tube. See http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/how_it_works/thermometer.html

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What happens to the liquid particles in a thermometer when it is heated?

When a thermometer is heated, the liquid particles gain energy and move faster, causing them to spread out and rise in the thermometer's tube. This expansion of the liquid column indicates an increase in temperature on the thermometer scale.


Why does the liquid expand in a thermometer when it gets hotter?

The liquid in a thermometer expands when it gets hotter because heat causes the molecules in the liquid to move faster and spread out, leading to an increase in volume. This expansion is what causes the liquid to rise up the tube of the thermometer, indicating a higher temperature.


Why does the liquid in a thermometer move?

It doesn't 'move' exactly, it expands. Originally mercury (a metal in a liquid state at room temperature) was used in thermometers; as the the temperature increases the mercury (or other liquid) expands, taking up more of the volume within the thermometer, causing the level to rise. Thermometers are calibrated to allow the temperature to be measured based on how much expansion has taken place.


How does a glass thermometer works?

As the liquid in the thermometer is heated it expands, and the only way the expanding liquid can go is upward. As the liquid in the thermometer cools, it will contract, and the liquid will fall back down into the resevoir, causing the column of liquid to move downward.


How does a glass stem thermometer measure temperature?

A glass stem thermometer measures temperature by using the principle of thermal expansion. The liquid inside the glass stem expands or contracts with temperature changes, causing the level of the liquid to move up or down the scale. This movement indicates the temperature.

Related Questions

What happens to the liquid particles in a thermometer when it is heated?

When a thermometer is heated, the liquid particles gain energy and move faster, causing them to spread out and rise in the thermometer's tube. This expansion of the liquid column indicates an increase in temperature on the thermometer scale.


Why does the liquid expand in a thermometer when it gets hotter?

The liquid in a thermometer expands when it gets hotter because heat causes the molecules in the liquid to move faster and spread out, leading to an increase in volume. This expansion is what causes the liquid to rise up the tube of the thermometer, indicating a higher temperature.


What causes liquid in thermometer to travel up and down in tube?

Heat causes Mercury in the thermometer to expand, where as when it is cooled, it contracts.


Why does the liquid in a thermometer move?

It doesn't 'move' exactly, it expands. Originally mercury (a metal in a liquid state at room temperature) was used in thermometers; as the the temperature increases the mercury (or other liquid) expands, taking up more of the volume within the thermometer, causing the level to rise. Thermometers are calibrated to allow the temperature to be measured based on how much expansion has taken place.


How does a glass thermometer works?

As the liquid in the thermometer is heated it expands, and the only way the expanding liquid can go is upward. As the liquid in the thermometer cools, it will contract, and the liquid will fall back down into the resevoir, causing the column of liquid to move downward.


How does a glass stem thermometer measure temperature?

A glass stem thermometer measures temperature by using the principle of thermal expansion. The liquid inside the glass stem expands or contracts with temperature changes, causing the level of the liquid to move up or down the scale. This movement indicates the temperature.


How does an air thermometer work?

An air thermometer has a bubble of liquid inside the tube and when the air inside of the tube heats up or cools down, the air takes up either more or less space inside of the tube, causing the bubble of liquid to either move upwards or downwards, indicating the temperature.


What happen to the liquid in a thermometer when it gets warm?

When a thermometer is exposed to warmth, the liquid inside it expands and rises up the tube. This is because heat causes the molecules in the liquid to move faster, taking up more space and causing the volume to increase. The expansion of the liquid is used to measure the temperature.


What happens when you heat up a liquid particle?

No, heating a liquid makes it's particles move farther apart (makes the liquid expand). This is most readily observed in an old glass thermometer. As your temperature goes up (as you heat the liquid in the thermometer), the liquid inside expands and travels up the thermometer.


Where is most of the liquid in a thermometer?

Most of the liquid in a thermometer is typically found in the bulb at the bottom of the thermometer. This is where the temperature changes cause the liquid to expand or contract, moving up or down the tube to indicate the temperature.


Why does the liquid in the thermometer go up and down when the weather changes?

The liquid in the thermometer expands or contracts based on temperature changes. When the weather is warmer, the liquid expands and rises up the tube, and when it's cooler, the liquid contracts and goes down. This movement indicates the temperature changes on the thermometer scale.


How does thermometer liquid?

When temperature goes up the liquid expands. The liquid then takes up more space and you see this as a rise in scale on the thermometer. The same applies vise versa