| In this science project you will learn how to create a | | | | touch the bottom of the bottle. The bottom of the |
| thermometer to measure heat. | | | | straw should sit in the liquid but not touch the bottom. |
| This is an instrument used in various applications to | | | | 6. Use the play dough or clay and put it around the |
| measure temperature. Doctors use them to check our | | | | mouth of the bottle securing the straw in place. You |
| body heat and we use a gauge outside to see how | | | | can actually wrap the dough around the lip a little to |
| cold or warm the weather is. In the United States we | | | | make sure it seals the bottle and holds the straw |
| general use Fahrenheit to measure the temperature | | | | where it should be. |
| but you can also use Celsius. With Fahrenheit 32 | | | | 7. DO NOT DRINK THIS! |
| degrees is freezing and 0 degrees is freezing with | | | | Now warm your hands up by rubbing them together |
| Celsius measurements. | | | | quickly and then place them around the bottle. Hold |
| Here is what you will need to get: | | | | them on the bottle and watch the straw in your |
| - Water | | | | thermometer rise. |
| - Alcohol (rubbing alcohol - DO NOT DRINK) | | | | Congratulations! You just made a thermometer and it |
| - Clear plastic bottle. Use a common water bottle | | | | is showing the heat created by holding your hands on |
| which is empty | | | | the bottle.With a thermometer when the solution inside |
| - Food color | | | | gets warm it expands and pushes the mixture up the |
| - Straw | | | | opening because it no longer fits in the bottom of your |
| - Play dough | | | | plastic container. If your mixture would get very hot the |
| Instructions to make this equipment: | | | | alcohol would end up spilling out the stop of the straw. |
| | | | Leave your thermometer on a counter and watch it |
| 1. Mix equal parts of the water and alcohol together to | | | | through the day and over a week time period to graph |
| make about ¼ cup. This means you will need 1/8 | | | | how it changes. Does it go up if the bottle is placed in |
| cup of water and 1/8 cup of alcohol. Do not make | | | | the sun? What happens when it is shaded? Now this |
| more than this amount. | | | | won't show the exact temperature outside but it does |
| 2. Pour the liquid into the plastic bottle. | | | | show change in warmth and coolness by the |
| 3. Put a few drops of food coloring into the bottle. This | | | | expansion of the mixture. |
| will be your measure for the thermometer so make it | | | | When finished with your product. Make sure to have |
| interesting. A normal gauge uses red as its color | | | | your parents dispose of the material in a proper place |
| because it stands out so if you want it to look | | | | and you will have to throw away the bottle. It cannot |
| traditional use a red food color. | | | | be used for anything else. Enjoy this science project. |
| 4. Mix the color with the liquid until blended. | | | | You could demonstrate this at a fair by having a light |
| 5. Insert the straw through the opening but do not let it | | | | to place the bottle by and a bucket with ice. |