20 Physics -- Heat and Temperature

Thermometer with spherical and cylindrical shaped capillary tube is given to you. Which would you prefer to use and why?

Thermometer with spherical and cylindrical shaped capillary tube is given to you. Which would you prefer to use and why?

I would prefer to use a cylindrical bulb instead of spherical bulb .


A sphere has the smallest ratio of surface area to volume of any shape. One of the factors of the rate of heat transfer is the amount of surface area contact of the thermometer and the object whose temperature is being measured. By using a cylindrical bulb, rather than a spherical bulb, the time to get an accurate temperature is reduced.

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