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Grade 12th PassThermal Physics

Two thermometers are constructed in the same way , except that one has a spherical bulb and the other a cylindrical bulb. Which will respond quickly to temperature changes??? How??

Profile image of Aditi Bhatnagar
14 Years agoGrade 12th Pass
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1 Answer

Profile image of Ritvik Gautam
ApprovedApproved Tutor Answer14 Years ago

The cylinderical thermometer will respond to the temperatures more quickly than the spherical thermometer as this reaction to the temperature would be directly propotional to the surface area. We know, the surface area of a spereical bulb will be less than the spherical area of the cylinder, infact a sphere has the least surface area and volume among all geometrical shapes.

Hence, the cylinderical bulb will react more quickly to temperature changes.

This is the reason, in our household thermometers, the bulb is cylinderical.

 

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