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Chapter 17: Problem 1

Two mercury-expansion thermometers have identical reservoirs and cylindrical tubes made of the same glass but of different diameters. Which of the two thermometers can be graduated to a better resolution? a) The thermometer with the smaller diameter tube will have better resolution. b) The thermometer with the larger diameter tube will have better resolution. c) The diameter of the tube is irrelevant; it is only the volume expansion coefficient of mercury that matters. d) Not enough information is given to tell.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: a) The thermometer with the smaller diameter tube will have better resolution.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding the concept of resolution

Resolution refers to the smallest change in temperature that can be detected by a thermometer. In a mercury-expansion thermometer, this is determined by the length of the mercury column in the capillary tube. The length of the mercury column is affected by the diameter of the tube.
02

Analyzing the relationship between diameter and resolution

In a mercury-expansion thermometer, the mercury expands when heated. This expansion causes the mercury column in the tube to rise. If the diameter of the tube is smaller, a smaller amount of volume change in the mercury would result in a significant increase in the length of the column. This means the thermometer with the smaller diameter tube would be able to detect smaller changes in temperature, hence having a better resolution.
03

Choosing the correct answer

Based on the analysis in Step 2, we can conclude that the thermometer with the smaller diameter tube will have a better resolution. Therefore, the correct answer is: a) The thermometer with the smaller diameter tube will have better resolution.

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