Making a
Thermometer!
A thermometer is a tool that helps you measure how hot or cold something is. It can measure the temperature of an object, solution, or even our environment, like the room we’re in.
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In this experiment, we're going to use household items to make a thermometer of our own and watch as it reacts to hot and cold environments!
Making a Thermometer!
Materials
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A bottle or glass bottle with a small opening
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A clear straw
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1 cup of water
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1 cup of rubbing alcohol
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Few drops of food colouring liquid
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Modeling Clay
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Tape
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Paper
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Pen
Procedure
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Pour one cup of water and one cup of rubbing alcohol into your bottle. Save a few drops in another container.
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Then, add a few drops of food colouring liquid and swirl to combine. Insert the straw into the bottle containing the solution in such a way that half of the straw is dipped inside the liquid and the rest appears above.
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Take a piece of clay and mold it around the top of the bottle and straw so that the straw does not move and is held in place. This also needs to block any air from entering or escaping the jar. Containing the air pressure is very important for this to work!
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Carefully put the set aside amount of water and rubbing alcohol into the top of the straw so the level of liquid is halfway between the modeling clay and the top of the straw.
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Put your piece of paper beside your straw so it reaches the top of the straw and the modeling clay, cut away and excess. Tape it into place and make a mark where the liquid level is. You can mark this as “Room Temperature” and use it to gauge the other environments against.
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Put your thermometer in hot and cold environments to watch the liquid rise and fall with the temperature. Make marks using your pen and label them. You can label it at the temperature of your freezer or hot room, and make notes about your observations.
THIS EXPERIMENT IS GREAT FOR BEGINNER EXPLORERS, INVOLVES USING SCISSORS, AND USES HOUSEHOLD ITEMS.
