Conceptual Physics (12th Edition)

Published by Addison-Wesley
ISBN 10: 0321909100
ISBN 13: 978-0-32190-910-7

Chapter 15 - Reading Check Questions (Comprehension) - Page 297: 5

Answer

A thermometer always "measures its own temperature". However, we usually want it to measure the temperature of something else, in which case, the thermometer should be in thermal equilibrium with the object, so the thermometer and object have the same temperature. Also, we require that the thermometer be small enough to not appreciably affect the temperature of the object being measured.

Work Step by Step

This is discussed on page 287.
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