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To compare the difference of two thermometers measuring the same environment (or substance) at the same time is (a) to compare the accuracy of the instruments and/or (b) to compare the method/type of thermometer.
Examples: (a) you could have an instrument (thermometer) that is known to be accurate and another which you are testing the accuracy of. You could have two types of thermometers such as (b1) a Mercury in glass thermometer and bi-metal spring thermometer. Or perhaps you have the sense that one thermometer covers your effective range of temperatures better than the other (b2). Perhaps you are concerned with how long it takes for the second thermometer to equilibrate. Or perhaps the second thermometer is a digital thermometer which you are using to check and calibrate your volumetric alcohol thermometer (b3). Importantly, (c) making multiple measurements allows you to average the measurements and find if they vary much from one another (measured by standard deviation, or standard error--look up these technical terms or read on to be reminded in brief).
(c) If you are making multiple measurements, you can calculate the mean of the measurements (the mean of two measurements is the sum of the two measurements divided by two) and the standard error (which, in the case of two measurements, would be the square root of the difference of the measurements). In the case of n measurements, the mean ("n_bar") would be the sum of the n measurements divided by n, and the standard error would be the square root of the sum of the squares of the differences between each measurement and n_bar, divided by n-1. The mean is simply the average, and the standard error is a measure of the spread of the measurement, or the accuracy of the group of measurements.
It is very often the business in science to make many measurements and keep track of means and errors, so that the variance in results is understood, and indeed whether there should be a variance. For example, one may expect the temperature to vary with respect to time or unknown factors. Temperature is known to vary at a particular location as a function of time of day (colder at midnight than it is at noon). On the other hand, there should be no variance as the measurement is of a quantity which is assumed to be constant, like the freezing temperature of pure water at a given pressure. If your measurement varies from a known quantity, you can readily compute the absolute error. If your (multiple) measurements of temperature vary from each other, you can readily compute the relative error. Only then would you be able to scientifically report your results.
What else can I help you with?
Which thermometer is used in refrigerators?
Refrigerators typically use a bimetallic coil thermometer or a digital thermometer to monitor and display the temperature inside the unit. These thermometers are designed to withstand the cold temperatures found in refrigerators and provide an accurate reading of the internal temperature.
Why can't a clinical thermometer be used to measure high temperature?
Because it has been designed to measure accurately over a narrow range of temperatures found in clinical medicine.
What is found in a thermometer?
Mercury :)
How do you find engine room temperature?
To find the engine room temperature, you can use a thermometer or a temperature sensor specifically designed for measuring high temperatures. Place the thermometer or sensor in the engine room for a few minutes to ensure an accurate reading. Make sure the equipment is capable of withstanding the high temperatures typically found in engine rooms.
What is the use of mercurial thermometer?
to check the temperature
What can a Fluke 62 infrared thermometer be used for?
A Fluke 62 infrared thermometer can be used to measure surface temperatures without direct contact. It is useful for checking temperatures of electrical equipment, HVAC systems, engines, and other objects that are not easily accessible or may be hot or dangerous to touch.
What liquids are found in a maximum and minimum thermometer?
A maximum thermometer typically contains mercury, which expands and contracts with temperature changes, allowing for precise measurements of high temperatures. In contrast, a minimum thermometer usually contains alcohol (often colored for visibility), which contracts more than mercury and can accurately indicate low temperatures. The design of both thermometers allows for the liquids to remain in place at the maximum or minimum temperature recorded until manually reset.
What are the units for a thermometer?
AnswerA thermometer is used to measure temperature.There are different units used to express temperature these units include kelvin,celsius and fahrenheit.These units can be convert from one to the other by simple calculation.However thermometers are found with different units of temperature, most thermometers measure in celsius and Fahrenheit.
What liquid is found in a clinical thermometer?
The liquid in a clinical thermometer is often mercury. But there are thermometers that use a coloured alcohol.
What major inventions did Galileo make?
found out that two different rocks of different weight fall at the same speedfind out that the earth moved just by studying the ocean tideshe improved the telescopeinvented the thermometer
Were to get a thermometer?
You can buy thermometers from almost any stores. Local stores such as department stores and drug stores commonly sell different types of thermometers for your needs. There are different types of thermometers such as laboratory thermometers, digital thermometer, food thermometer, wireless bbq thermometer, outdoor thermometer, room thermometer, and clinic thermometer.
Where will you find Mercury?
Mercury can be found in the labarotry or in the clinical thermometer.
