In a mercury thermometer, the level of mercury rises when its bulb com...
**Reason for the rise in the level of mercury in a mercury thermometer when its bulb comes in contact with a hot object**
Mercury thermometers are commonly used to measure temperature and are based on the principle of thermal expansion. When the bulb of a mercury thermometer is exposed to a hot object, the level of mercury in the thermometer rises. This rise in the level of mercury can be attributed to two main factors: thermal expansion and the properties of mercury.
**Thermal Expansion**
When a substance is heated, its particles gain kinetic energy and move more vigorously, leading to an increase in the average separation between particles. This increase in separation results in the expansion of the substance. In the case of mercury, which is a liquid metal, it exhibits a significant increase in volume when heated.
**Properties of Mercury**
Mercury has unique properties that make it suitable for use in thermometers. Firstly, mercury is a liquid at room temperature and has a low freezing point of -38.83°C (-37.89°F) and a boiling point of 356.73°C (674.11°F). This means that it remains in a liquid state within a wide range of temperatures that are commonly encountered.
Additionally, mercury is a dense liquid with a high coefficient of expansion. The coefficient of expansion is a measure of how much a substance expands when heated. Mercury has a relatively high coefficient of expansion, meaning that it expands more than other substances for the same increase in temperature.
**Explanation of the Rise in the Level of Mercury**
When the bulb of a mercury thermometer comes into contact with a hot object, the heat energy is transferred to the mercury inside the bulb. As the temperature of the mercury increases, the particles gain kinetic energy and move more vigorously, causing an expansion of the mercury. This expansion results in a rise in the level of mercury within the capillary tube of the thermometer.
The rise in the level of mercury can be observed due to two main reasons. Firstly, the expansion of the mercury causes it to occupy a larger volume, and as a result, it rises within the capillary tube due to gravity. Secondly, the expansion of the mercury increases the pressure exerted by the mercury on the surrounding walls of the capillary tube, pushing the mercury upward.
In conclusion, the rise in the level of mercury in a mercury thermometer when its bulb comes in contact with a hot object can be attributed to the thermal expansion of mercury and its unique properties such as being a liquid at room temperature, having a low freezing and high boiling point, and a high coefficient of expansion.
In a mercury thermometer, the level of mercury rises when its bulb com...
Mercury gets expanded on heating, hence its level rises in the capillary when comes in contact with a hot object.
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