Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/17/84; site think.ARPA Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!gamma!epsilon!zeta!sabre!petrus!bellcore!decvax!yale!think!ejb 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