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A Mercury thermometer (like the kind a medic might use) is a thin glass tube filled with the metallic element mercury, which is a liquid. The rate at which mercury expands with heat is known and happens at a constant rate, so the movement of the mercury column up and down the tube can be read off at a scale on the side. Because mercury is relatively dense, it isn't affected too much by changes in atmospheric pressure.

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14y ago

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