Question about thermometers

Question

If you were testing the temperature of something, eg. water, would the temperature be on the thernoneter be wrong if the thermometer it touching metal when the themperature is being read

Answer 1

The metal tip of the thermometer is not electricaly conductive(usually).  If it touches metal, the metal may not be the same temp as the water.  To be sure, make sure that the water is at least 100 times the weight as the tip of the thermometer.

Answer 2

Jenna-

It depends upon what type of thermometer you use, but it is in general, a bad idea to have the thermometer in contact with something other than the substance whose temp. you are measuring.

Are you worried about a lab you did?  Tell us what you did and we can tell you if your results are incorrect (and help you correct them).

-Fred

Answer 3

i guess if you were taking the temp of water boiling in a pan