Did you know that you can make your own thermometer using just a a few household supplies? Try using the Homemade Thermometer Procedure link below to build your thermometer; don't watch the video yet! Reading and following a procedure is an important skill, especially if you find it a little bit challenging! It's always good to challenge yourself. After you have built your thermometer, watch the video and see how your thermometer matches up.
Note: If you don't have one or more the materials, can you think of substitutions? Feel free to get creative, depending on what you have at home. There are some suggested substitutions below.
If you don't have rubbing alcohol, you can use water instead. (The advantage of rubbing alcohol is that is freezes at -128 degrees Fahrenheit, much lower than water's freezing temperature of 32 degrees Fahrenheit.)
If you don't have modeling clay, you can use a small balloon or maybe even piece of chewed bubble gum. You just need something to prevent air from entering or escaping your thermometer bottle.
Calibrating your Thermometer:
Now that you have a working thermometer, try calibrating it with a thermometer you have at home. Place both thermometers in a variety of locations and give them time to adjust to the temperature. Use the one you found at home to add a scale to your straw. You should then be able to use your homemade thermometer to figure out the specific temperatures!
Explaining your Thermometer:
Why does your thermometer work? If you're not sure, try researching thermal energy, energy transfers, and thermal expansion.
Challenge:
If you built a thermometer using rubbing alcohol, try building another one with water. Compare them at different temperatures. Does one of them rise more/drop less than the other? Why might that happen?