Thermal Expansion
Build a Bottle Thermometer
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Time to explore temperature and thermal expansion!
In this hands-on activity, students will build their own thermometer using water, rubbing alcohol, and a straw to understand how temperature affects liquids and gases. Through this experiment, they will apply the laws of thermodynamics, particularly the ideal gas law (describing how gas pressure and volume relate to temperature), and learn about thermal expansion and conservation of energy.
In this lesson, students will also engage with key concepts in engineering and physical science as they construct and test their thermometers, seeing firsthand how scientific principles apply to everyday technologies.
Approximate time needed: 45-60 minutes
Standards:
MS CCRS: L.6.1, L.6.4, L.8.3, L.8.6
NGSS: MS-PS1-4, MS-PS3-2, MS-ETS1-3
Video - How Thermometers Work (1 min)
Materials List
Access Lesson Plan
Class Worksheet for Data