Required the tension corresponding to 197°·84.
| ° | |||||||
| 197 | = | 22·036 | ·465 × ·84 | = | ·391 | ||
| 198 | = | 22·501 | 197° | = | 22·036 | ||
| Difference | ·465 | 197·84 | = | 22·427 |
When the tension is given, take the difference between it and the next less tension in the Table, and divide this difference by the difference between the next less and next greater tensions. The quotient will be the decimals to add to the degree opposite the next less tension.
Thus, for 23·214 inches, required the temperature.
| Given | 23·214 | Next | greater | 23·456 | ||||
| 22·974 | Next | less | 22·974 | |||||
| ·240 | Difference | ·482 | ||||||
| And | ·240 | = | ·5 | |||||
| ·482 | ||||||||
| Temperature opposite next less | 199·0 | |||||||
| Temperature required | 199·5 | |||||||
A similar method of interpolation in taking out numerical quantities is applicable to almost all tables; and should be practised with all those given in this work.
Example.—Thus, in Liverpool, lat. 53° 30´ N., the barometer reading 29·876 inches, its attached thermometer 55°, and the correction of the instrument being + ·015 (including index error, capillarity and capacity), what temperature should be assigned for the boiling point marked on the thermometer?
| Observed barometer | 29·876 | |
| Correction | + ·015 | |
| 29·891 | ||
| Correction for temperature | - ·074 | |
| Reduced reading | 29·817 | |
| Factor from Table V. | 1·00077 | |
| 208719 | ||
| 208719 | ||
| 29817 | ||
| Equivalent for lat. 45° | 29·83995909 |
In Table VI., 29·84 gives temperature 211°·86.
58. Displacement of the Freezing Point.—Either the prolonged effect of the atmospheric pressure upon the thin glass of the bulbs of thermometers, or the gradual restoration of the equilibrium of the particles of the glass after having been greatly disturbed by the operation of boiling the mercury, seems to be the cause of the freezing points of standard thermometers reading from a few tenths to a degree higher in the course of some years, as has been repeatedly observed. To obviate this small error, it is our practice to place the tubes aside for about six months before fixing the freezing point, in order to give time for the glass to regain its former state of aggregation. The making of accurate thermometers is a task attended with many difficulties, the principal one being the liability of the zero or freezing point varying constantly, so much so, that a thermometer that is perfectly correct to-day, if immersed in boiling water, will be no longer accurate; at least, it will take some time before it again settles into its normal state. Then, again, if a thermometer is recently blown, filled, and graduated immediately, or, at least, before some months have elapsed, though every care may have been taken with the production of the instrument, it will require some correction; so that the instrument, however carefully made, should from time to time be plunged into finely-pounded ice, in order to verify the freezing point.