CLINICAL THERMOMETRE

Clinical thermometer is a sensitive Fahrenheit scale thermometer. For measuring temperature

of human body this thermometer is extensively used. For this reason this thermometer is called
clinical thermometer or doctor’s thermometer.

Construction: It consists of a cylindrical bulb B which is filled with mercury. A capillary tube T of
uniform and fine bore is attached to the bulb. Just above the bulb at point C the tube is made
narrow and bent. Since the temperature of human body varies from 95°F to 110°F, the
thermometer is calibrated in this temperature range. Each degree is divided into five small
equal divisions. Besides, as the temperature of a healthy man is 98.4°F, so special bold or red
mark is made on the surface of the thermometer at 98.4°F.

Working Principle: The thermometer is thoroughly shaken before measuring the temperature
of the body. Then the mercury level drops and remains inside the bulb. In this condition if
the thermometer is placed under the tongue or under the arms, the temperature and
consequently the volume of the thermometer increases. As a result, some mercury flows
through the capillary tube C from the bulb B. When the thermometer is taken out of the body,
the mercury level contracts. Consequently, the mercury above the level C goes back to the bulb.
But since the mercury level above C cannot come back to the bulb through the fine capillary
tube, it remains above C. So the upper level of the mercury surface indicates the temperature
of the body. Before using the thermometer again it should be shaken thoroughly so that
mercury level goes back to the bulb.

The constriction prevents the thermometric substance (Mercury or Alcohol) from running back into the
bulb. This helps for example when one wants to know the body temperature of a patient he/she puts
the thermometer in the suitable place to take the reading for some time and then retrieves it to take the
reading now the constriction prevents the thermometric substance from running back into the bulb so
that you can see & or record the correct temperature.
Without the constriction the thermometric substance would’ve ran back into the bulb as soon as the
user wanted to make a temperature and so with the constriction, you can take a reading whereas the
thermometric liquid in the bore moves only if you shake the thermometer vigorously or let it stay in
room temp for several minutes.
COMPARISON BETWEEN MERCURY AND ALCOHOL THERMOMETRE

The two liquids used in liquid in glass thermometers are mercury and alcohol. Below are some
of the advantages and disadvantages associated with thermometric liquids.
Advantages of mercury as a thermometric liquid.
-It is a good conductor of heat and therefore the whole liquid reaches the temperature of the
surroundings quickly.
-It does not wet (cling to the sides of) the tube.
-It has a high boiling point
-It expands uniformly (linear expansion) and responds quickly to temperature changes, hence is
sensitive.
-It has a visible meniscus.
Disadvantages
-Mercury is very poisonous.
-its expansively is fairly low
-it is expensive
-It has a high freezing point therefore it cannot be used in places where the temperature gets
very low.

Advantages of alcohol
Alcohol has a thermometric fluid
-Alcohol expands uniformly.
-It has a low freezing point (-115 degree centigrade) therefore it is very suitable for place where
the temperature gets very low.
-It has a large expansively
-It is an easily available cheap liquid, which is safe to use

Disadvantages of alcohol
-it wets the tube
-it has a low boiling point (cannot be used in places with high temperatures)
-it does not react quickly to changes in temperature
-It needs to be dyed, since it's colorless.