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From: ejb@think.ARPA (Erik Bailey)
Newsgroups: net.puzzle
Subject: Re: Thermometer Puzzle
Message-ID: <3175@think.ARPA>
Date: Thu, 24-Oct-85 18:09:06 EDT
Article-I.D.: think.3175
Posted: Thu Oct 24 18:09:06 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 26-Oct-85 05:18:30 EDT
References: <24@pixel.UUCP>
Reply-To: ejb@think.UUCP (Erik Bailey)
Distribution: net
Organization: Thinking Machines, Cambridge, MA
Lines: 15
Summary: 

In article <24@pixel.UUCP> vsh@pixel.UUCP (vsh) writes:
>When an ordinary mercury thermometer at room temperature is inserted
>into a beaker of boiling water, the mercury actually descends a
>small but noticeable amount before ascending to the 100 C level.
>Why?


Well, my friend Dave Whitney says:

It's because when you put the theremometer in the hot air rising from
the boiling water, there is a distinct drop in pressure, uh, causing the
bulb of glass around the mercury to expand, and therefore sucking the
murcury down the thermometer.

--Erik