The response time of a thermometer is governed by Newton’s law of cooling. The time constant is analogous to that of electrical RC circuits. The response time of a thermometer is, however, critically dependent upon the coefficient of convective heat transfer of the (liquid) medium being measured. This places the thermometer in a unique category among measuring instruments.

Topics
RC circuits, Thermal instruments, Thermodynamic states and processes
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© 1998 American Association of Physics Teachers.
1998
American Association of Physics Teachers
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