Most physical properties of a material change with temperature
(perhaps not very much!). In the previous section we
investigated some things that change size with temperature.
In this section we will study materials that
change color with temperature.
These can be used to make an unusual kind of thermometer that lets us
visualize
how temperature varies from place to
place.
The samples in the kits are called "liquid crystals."
They actually contain tiny drops of a liquid, encapsulated in
the plastic film. They will last longer if you take
care of them properly, so please read the page
Taking care of the thermal sensing sheet.
It isn't necessary to know how they work
to use them, but if you would like to know more, we have
provided a page of information
about them.
| Main Pages | Estimated time required | Link to activities in the manual |
|---|---|---|
| Exploring liquid crystal | 30 minutes | |
| Calibrating the liquid crystal | 45 minutes | Liquid Crystals #3 |
| About liquid crystals | 30 minutes | |
| Discussion of liquid crystals | 30 minutes |
Materials needed for this section