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QPage 11: Q8: HC Verma: Concepts of Physics - Volume 2 Heat and Temperature Page 11: Q8 Solution: If mercury and glass had equal coefficients of volume…

⚠️ Common Exam Traps & Conceptual Pitfalls

Students frequently forget that a liquid‑in‑glass thermometer relies on the *apparent* expansion, i.e., the difference between the liquid’s coefficient and the glass’s coefficient. If both have the same $gamma$, the glass tube and bulb expand exactly as the mercury does, so the mercury column does not rise relative to the tube and the device cannot register temperature changes.

If mercury and glass had equal coefficients of volume expansion, could we make a mercury thermometer in a glass tube?

Step-by-Step Verified Solution

**Answer:** No, we could not make a mercury thermometer if mercury and glass had equal coefficients of volume expansion. **Step-by-Step Explanation:** A liquid-in-glass thermometer works because the liquid expands more than the glass. The apparent expansion (liquid relative to glass) causes the level to rise. If mercury and glass had the same γ\gamma, the mercury would expand exactly as much as the glass, and there would be no relative change in the level. The thermometer would not function.

All Questions in this Chapter

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