Temperature and its Measurement Part 1: MCQs (Q1–Q25)

Part 1 — Questions 1–25 (Basics of heat, temperature, and thermometers)

1. The unit of temperature in the SI system is

A. Fahrenheit
B. Celsius
C. Kelvin ← Correct Answer
D. Rankine
Explanation:
A) Fahrenheit is used in USA, not SI.
B) Celsius is common, but SI unit is Kelvin.
C) Correct — Kelvin is SI unit.
D) Rankine is rarely used.

2. Which device is used to measure temperature?

A. Barometer
B. Thermometer ← Correct Answer
C. Hygrometer
D. Anemometer
Explanation:
A) Barometer → air pressure.
B) Correct — thermometer measures temperature.
C) Hygrometer → humidity.
D) Anemometer → wind speed.

3. The freezing point of water on Celsius scale is

A. 100°C
B. 0°C ← Correct Answer
C. 273 K
D. 32°C
Explanation:
A) 100°C is boiling point.
B) Correct — water freezes at 0°C.
C) 273 K equals 0°C but Kelvin scale.
D) 32°F equals 0°C, Fahrenheit scale.

4. The boiling point of water on Celsius scale is

A. 100°C ← Correct Answer
B. 0°C
C. 212°C
D. 273°C
Explanation:
A) Correct — 100°C is boiling point at sea level.
B) 0°C is freezing.
C) 212°F (Fahrenheit scale).
D) 273°C is incorrect.

5. Which of the following thermometers is used for measuring body temperature?

A. Laboratory thermometer
B. Clinical thermometer ← Correct Answer
C. Maximum-minimum thermometer
D. Alcohol thermometer
Explanation:
A) Used in experiments.
B) Correct — clinical thermometer (35–42°C range).
C) Used in weather stations.
D) Alcohol thermometers for very low temperatures.

6. A clinical thermometer usually reads temperature range from

A. 0–100°C
B. 35–42°C ← Correct Answer
C. –100 to 500°C
D. 20–80°C
Explanation:
A) Laboratory thermometer range.
B) Correct — human body range.
C/D) Wrong ranges.

7. The normal human body temperature is

A. 100°C
B. 37°C ← Correct Answer
C. 32°F
D. 0°C
Explanation:
A/D) Incorrect.
B) Correct — normal body temperature = 37°C (98.6°F).
C) 32°F is water freezing point.

8. The liquid commonly used in thermometers is

A. Water
B. Oil
C. Mercury ← Correct Answer
D. Petrol
Explanation:
A/B/D) Expand irregularly or unsafe.
C) Correct — mercury expands uniformly with temperature, visible in glass.

9. Which property of mercury makes it suitable for thermometers?

A. Poor visibility
B. Non-uniform expansion
C. Uniform expansion and good visibility ← Correct Answer
D. It evaporates quickly
Explanation:
A/B/D) Incorrect.
C) Correct — mercury expands evenly, visible, shiny.

10. In extremely cold regions, which thermometer liquid is used?

A. Mercury
B. Colored alcohol ← Correct Answer
C. Oil
D. Water
Explanation:
A) Mercury freezes below –39°C.
B) Correct — alcohol remains liquid at very low temperatures.
C/D) Not used.

11. 0 K is equal to

A. –273°C ← Correct Answer
B. 0°C
C. 100°C
D. –100°C
Explanation:
A) Correct — absolute zero (0 K = –273°C).
B/C/D) Wrong conversions.

12. Which thermometer has a kink near the bulb?

A. Laboratory thermometer
B. Clinical thermometer ← Correct Answer
C. Maximum-minimum thermometer
D. Alcohol thermometer
Explanation:
A/C/D) Do not have kinks.
B) Correct — kink prevents mercury from falling back quickly.

13. What precaution must be taken when using a clinical thermometer?

A. Do not jerk it
B. Read only when mercury thread stabilizes ← Correct Answer
C. Keep it vertical
D. Use in hot boiling liquids
Explanation:
A) Jerk is done to reset, not precaution during use.
B) Correct — wait for thread to stabilize.
C) Not necessary.
D) Never use in boiling liquids.

14. Which scale is not commonly used in India?

A. Celsius
B. Fahrenheit ← Correct Answer
C. Kelvin
D. None
Explanation:
A/C) Used in science.
B) Correct — Fahrenheit less common in India, still in USA.
D) Wrong.

15. 98.6°F is equal to

A. 32°C
B. 100°C
C. 37°C ← Correct Answer
D. 273 K
Explanation:
A/B/D) Wrong conversions.
C) Correct — body temperature 98.6°F ≈ 37°C.

16. Which thermometer is used to measure boiling water?

A. Clinical thermometer
B. Laboratory thermometer ← Correct Answer
C. Maximum-minimum thermometer
D. Digital thermometer
Explanation:
A) Breaks in boiling water.
B) Correct — lab thermometers measure high range (–10 to 110°C).
C) Weather use.
D) Digital can but lab is standard.

17. Which one is safer than mercury thermometers?

A. Glass thermometer
B. Digital thermometer ← Correct Answer
C. Wooden thermometer
D. Metal thermometer
Explanation:
A/C/D) Not specific.
B) Correct — digital thermometers avoid mercury, give quick readings.

18. Which part of a thermometer is sensitive to temperature?

A. Capillary tube
B. Bulb filled with liquid ← Correct Answer
C. Glass cover
D. Scale
Explanation:
A) Tube holds mercury.
B) Correct — bulb liquid expands with heat.
C/D) Not sensitive.

19. A person suffering from fever should measure temperature using

A. Laboratory thermometer
B. Clinical thermometer ← Correct Answer
C. Digital thermometer
D. Both B and C
Explanation:
A) Wrong instrument.
B) Correct but mercury-based.
C) Also correct.
D) Best answer is both B and C.

20. Temperature is the measure of

A. Quantity of heat
B. Degree of hotness or coldness of a body ← Correct Answer
C. Mass
D. Volume
Explanation:
A) Heat is energy, not same.
B) Correct — temperature measures hotness/coldness.
C/D) Wrong.

21. If a clinical thermometer is put in hot milk (70°C), it will

A. Show reading
B. Break ← Correct Answer
C. Remain unaffected
D. Freeze
Explanation:
A/C/D) Wrong.
B) Correct — range is up to 42°C only, above that it breaks.

22. Which scale of temperature is most widely used in science?

A. Fahrenheit
B. Celsius
C. Kelvin ← Correct Answer
D. Reaumur
Explanation:
A/B/D) Not SI.
C) Correct — Kelvin is scientific standard.

23. Which is NOT a precaution while reading a thermometer?

A. Place eye at mercury level
B. Hold vertically always
C. Read immediately after removal from mouth (for clinical) ← Correct Answer
D. Shake thermometer before use
Explanation:
A/B/D) Necessary.
C) Correct — must wait for stabilization.

24. Which of these expands most uniformly with temperature rise?

A. Water
B. Mercury ← Correct Answer
C. Oil
D. Air
Explanation:
A/C/D) Expand irregularly.
B) Correct — mercury expands uniformly.

25. Why should a thermometer not be tilted while reading?

A. Looks bad
B. Mercury may escape
C. Causes parallax error, wrong reading ← Correct Answer
D. No reason
Explanation:
A/D) Incorrect.
B) Mercury won’t escape by tilting.
C) Correct — tilting causes wrong alignment and errors.

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