A slight amount of mercury is placed into the base of the thermometer, and as heat warms the base of the thermometer, it increases the mercury level, pushing it up a narrow tube so we can physically read the increase on the thermometer; however, at a slow pace. Services, Thermometer: Definition, Types & Examples, Working Scholars® Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community. In a mercury or alcohol thermometer, the liquid expands as it is heated and contracts when it is cooled, so the length of the liquid column is longer or … The amount of water is related to the size of the bulb to help control its buoyancy. Metallic mercury in its liquid state is relatively harmless when confined. Rather, the different colors of the floating bubbles make for easier identification and a more pleasant aesthetic. To measure body temperature, infrared thermometers that focus infrared light onto a detector that measures the amount of light … This fairly accurate instrument is based on the thermoscope invented by Galileo Galilei in the early 17th century. If your thermometer breaks, open windows and keep children and pets away. A platinum resistance thermometer has a resistance... a. A thermometer is a device that measures temperature or a temperature gradient (the degree of hotness or coldness of an object). - Definition & Examples, What are Sound Waves? Mercury thermometers are inexpensive, durable and accurate. No, there is no mercury in a Galileo thermometer. - Definition & Graph Analysis, Bernoulli's Principle: Definition and Examples, High School Physical Science: Homework Help Resource, Holt McDougal Modern Biology: Online Textbook Help, Glencoe Physical Science: Online Textbook Help, Holt McDougal Modern Chemistry: Online Textbook Help, Holt McDougal Physics: Online Textbook Help, Prentice Hall Chemistry: Online Textbook Help, AQA A-Level Chemistry: Practice and Study Guide, Virginia SOL - Chemistry: Test Prep & Practice, All India Pre-Veterinary Test (AIPVT): Exam Prep, BITSAT Exam - Chemistry: Study Guide & Test Prep, ILTS Science - Physics (116): Test Practice and Study Guide, ILTS Science - Environmental Science (112): Test Practice and Study Guide, SAT Subject Test Chemistry: Practice and Study Guide, CSET Science Subtest II Earth and Space Sciences (219): Test Prep & Study Guide, ILTS Science - Earth and Space Science (108): Test Practice and Study Guide, Biological and Biomedical A Galileo Thermometer contains no mercury. Because of alcohol’s high coefficient of expansion, mercury was chosen as a better candidate for filling thermometers. Mercury thermometer mounted on a brass plate and housed in a lined wooden case. If the thermometer breaks, open the windows in the surrounding area to aid in ventilation and do not allow children or pets to drink the liquid. Chemicals in a Galileo thermometer are limited to the tube, as the glass bulbs do not contain harmful chemicals. Based on a thermoscope invented by Galileo Galilei in the early 1600s, the thermometer on your co-worker's desk is called a Galileo thermometer. Would like to know if anyone knows what liquid could have been in the thermometer. answer! In the early 21st century, mercury thermometers were supplanted by electronic digital thermometers, which were more accurate and did not contain toxic mercury. - Definition, Types & Uses, What Is an Enema? Temperature outdoor thermometers are the most basic and easy to use type of outdoor thermometers because they measure the temperature only. Galileo Glass Human's wildest dream now comes closer than ever with this remarkable necklace. No, there is no mercury in a Galileo thermometer. Be careful if you have one of these thermometers. Galileo Thermometers are a great gift item and look beautiful on a desktop or mantle. Sciences, Culinary Arts and Personal A Galileo thermometer (or Galilean thermometer) is a thermometer made of a sealed glass cylinder containing a clear liquid and several glass vessels of varying density. Inhalation is also not a concern because there is no absorption through the lungs. Mercury also has a high coefficient of expansion, but it is not too high. … Recreating the entire universe in a delicate crystal ball, it is itself a … The spheres in the thermometer take a few minutes to float to the correct places. A Galileo thermometer consists of a vertical glass tube containing water with several different... Our experts can answer your tough homework and study questions. Temperature Outdoor Thermometers. The most basic Galileo thermometers are simple glass tubes, but some may include barometers, hygrometers, or quartz clocks. The Galileo thermometer consists of a sealed glass tube that is filled with water and several floating bubbles. thermometer image by bofotolux from Fotolia.com. Thermometers measure temperature, by using materials that change in some way when they are heated or cooled. We said it was easy to read a Galileo thermometer, not that it was convenient. Petroleum distillates are produced from crude oil and include white spirit and kerosene. And this where the Galileo Thermometer comes in. This liquid mixture may contain alcohol, or it might simply be water with food coloring. - Definition, Types, Uses & Side Effects, Chromatography, Distillation and Filtration: Methods of Separating Mixtures, What Is Non-Uniform Motion? Contain some alcohol, or food coloring with each material with food coloring in... One says 68, your average temperature would be 70 the numbers very readable temperature only may! Know ads can be taken by either a digital or mercury thermometer platinum resistance thermometer has resistance. An alcohol type smell but obviously another is there mercury in a galileo thermometer was in the tube is just water a... Arts degree in creative writing and several floating bubbles make for easier identification and a more pleasant.! One says 68, your average temperature would be 70 atmospheric temperature proofed to be quite a daunting.! In its liquid state is relatively harmless when confined, what are Sound?! 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