Copyright © Michael Richmond.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
Build a thermometer.
This project may be done by teams of 1-2 individuals. The goal is to build a device which can measure the temperature of a liquid substance between the freezing and boiling points of water.
Using ordinary household materials (make sure that you don't use anything too valuable), put together a device which visibly indicates the temperature of some substance in which it is immersed. You might try to fill a long thin tube with some colored liquid. Or you might try something different -- an arrangement of two thin strips of different metals, perhaps, or a circuit with carefully measured resistance. The only requirements are that it be calibrated for temperatures between 0 and 100 degrees Celsius, and that it can be made to work properly when immersed in or exposed to liquids. You may adopt any method you wish, as long as you describe clearly how your method works.
Once you've created and calibrated your thermometer, write up a brief report explaining its design, and how it works. Make sure the report includes a diagram of the device and a description of your calibration process. How accurate do you think it is?
You will have to give me your device for a brief trial. If it works, you win. If not ... you can try again.
This page maintained by Michael Richmond. Last modified Apr 30, 1998.
Copyright © Michael Richmond.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.