Using a thermometer

Using a thermometer

Pencil and paper
Overview
Using this Resource
Connecting to the Curriculum
Marking Student Responses
a) Predict the temperature of each of these liquids:

  • cold tap water __________  
     
  • hot tap water __________  
     
  • water from the refrigerator __________  
     
  • freshly boiled water __________  
b) Use a thermometer to measure the temperature of these liquids.

  • cold tap water __________ °C  
     
  • hot tap water __________ °C  
     
  • water from the refrigerator __________ °C  
     
  • freshly boiled water __________ °C  
c) Draw the temperature of each of the liquids on the thermometers below.

temperatures_on_thermometers.png
Task administration: 

[Equipment: Cold tap water; hot tap water; water from refrigerator; freshly boiled water; thermometer.]

This task assesses student's ability to predict and measure temperature using a thermometer.

Level:
3
Curriculum info: 
Science, Investigating in science, Physical World
Keywords: 
physical inquiry, temperature, thermometers, measurement
Description of task: 
In this practical task students predict, and then measure the temperature of water from a range of familiar sources.
Curriculum Links: 
Science capabilities
The capabilities focus is brought about by the conversations you have and the questions you ask.
 
Capability: Gather and interpret data
This resource provides opportunities to discuss how tools can make our observations more accurate, or allow us to see things in more detail.
 
 
Making Better Sense: 
Movement (measuring heat)
Answers/responses: 
a) Predictions need not be accurate but must show an increasing temperature in this order:
water from refrigerator cold tap water  hot tap water freshly boiled water
b) Temperatures recorded accurately.
c) Temperatures correctly drawn for all 4 temperatures recorded in b).