A mercury-in-glass thermometer read 4cm at ice point and 29cm at steam point. Calculate the temperature when the mercury level is at 9cm
Answer Details
To find the temperature when the mercury level is at 9cm, we need to first calculate the length of the mercury column from the ice point to the 9cm mark. The total length of the mercury column from the ice point to the steam point is 29cm - 4cm = 25cm. To find the length of the mercury column from the ice point to the 9cm mark, we can use the proportion: length of mercury column from ice point to 9cm mark / total length of mercury column = temperature at 9cm / temperature range where the temperature range is the difference between the temperatures of the steam point and ice point. Plugging in the values we know, we get: length of mercury column from ice point to 9cm mark / 25cm = (temperature at 9cm - 0oC) / (100oC - 0oC) Simplifying this equation, we get: length of mercury column from ice point to 9cm mark = (temperature at 9cm / 100) x 25cm Now we can solve for the temperature at the 9cm mark by plugging in the given value for the length of the mercury column at the 9cm mark: 9cm - 4cm = (temperature at 9cm / 100) x 25cm Simplifying this equation, we get: temperature at 9cm = 100 x (9cm - 4cm) / 25cm temperature at 9cm = 20oC Therefore, the temperature when the mercury level is at 9cm is 20oC.