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Ethanol Experiment Number 7: Test "German" Digital Thermometer

TITLE: Experiment #7
OBJECTIVE(S): Test the new "German" digital thermometer, and determine if boiling water does in fact measure 100*C.
(All the instructions are written in German. I don't know how to turn it off unless I remove the battery.)
GO/NO-GO: GO (Successful test, however the thermometer is NOT 100% accurate.)
SUMMARY: Thermometer does NOT measure 100*C when immersed in boiling water.
NEXT ATTEMPT: n/a

It is important to determine whether or not your thermometers are properly calibrated.

This experiment has determined this thermometer does NOT measure boiling water as 100*C.

 
WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!
See "Experiment #8"
This thermometer demonstrated itself to be INaccurate!
We noted the "overflow" water was measuring 72*C yet it was cool to the touch!
70-75*C is 70% to 75% of the temperature of boiling water!
Fortunately our Mystery State Worker pointed out this point, and there was no way it should feel "cool" to the touch!
(Incidentally, 212*F times 70% = 148.4*F)

exp07_01
Boiling water on the stove top.
This probe has a "clip" so I was able to suspend it above the bottom of the kettle.
exp07_02
The thermometer quickly rises to 98*C...
(The LEFT-HAND temp. is what the probe reads. The RIGHT-HAND is the "Alarm" temp.)
exp07_03
Temperature stabilizes at 99*C with the end of the probe in submerged in boiling water.
Careful! It's hot!

 

98.0*C equals 208.4*F 99.0*C equals 210.2*F

 

 

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