Exploring Temperature
Eight investigations using the Temperature Sensor.
PASPORT Temperature Sensor (PS-2125)
ScienceWorkshop Temperature Sensor
(CI-6505B)
Lab Summary
You can use PASCO's Temperature Sensor to investigate a variety of scientific phenomena.
It may be difficult to imagine, but the atoms and molecules that make up all matter are constantly in motion. This is true even for matter in the solid state! Because they are constantly moving, atoms and molecules possess kinetic energy. Temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of all the moving particles that make up a substance. Whenever a substance becomes warmer, its atoms and molecules move faster, and therefore have more kinetic energy. The opposite is true when a substance cools down -- its atoms and molecules slow down and as a result have less kinetic energy.
We commonly measure temperature with some type of thermometer, usually one containing a liquid like mercury or alcohol. As the liquid heats up and expands -- or cools down and contracts -- we can see the liquid move up or down in a column marked with degrees of hotness on a particular scale, for example Fahrenheit or Celsius. In order to work, the thermometer must be in thermal contact with the substance whose temperature is being measured. Energy will flow between the two until thermal equilibrium is reached, at which point the thermometer's temperature will be the same as that of the substance being measured. PASCO's Temperature Sensor reports the temperature via the computer when the stainless steel probe is in thermal contact with matter. Because there is no liquid that expands or contracts, the Temperature Sensor reacts quickly to changes in thermal energy, letting you measure temperature changes that happen very rapidly.
Hypothesize: As you conduct the suggested experiments, predict how the temperature will change -- Up? Down? By how much?
Published: January 2003
Downloads
- Exploring Temperature - PASPORT (31 KB, .zip)
Includes experiment setup, procedures and Datastudio file
- Exploring Temperature - ScienceWorkshop (30 KB, .zip)
Includes experiment setup, procedures and Datastudio file
Here's What You Need
U.S. Educator prices shown.
Probeware (ScienceWorkshop System)
Temperature Sensor (CI-6605A) - $39
Used for measuring the temperature of liquids, air, and other materials.
750 Interface, USB (CI-7650) - $679
The 750 Interface allows students to measure force, temperature, pressure, angular velocity, acceleration, current, and magnetic field with a built-in function generator and oscilloscope mode.
Probeware (PASPORT System)
PASPORT Temperature Sensor (PS-2125) - $30
Durable stainless steel temperature sensor with a wide measurable range. For use with PASPORT Interfaces.
Xplorer GLX (PS-2002) - $349
The Xplorer GLX is a data collection, graphing, and analysis tool designed for science students and educators.
