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If anyone has ever questioned the accuracy of their thermometers, the first course of action that they are instructed to do is to calibrate their thermometers (if the thermometer can be calibrated). If your thermometer can't be calibrated, then you must compensate for the difference wither you use the Ice Bath method or the Boiling Water method
The two methods of calibration is the Ice Bath method in which the thermometer is calibrated to 32° F. (or 0°C). To me this method is the most accurate providing that you know the proper way to do the ice water calibration. No matter what your elevation is, water freezes at 32°F (0° C). Check here for the How To Make A Proper Ice Bath video. Thanks goes out to AustinL for posting that video link!
The other method is the Boiling Water method in which you calibrate your thermometer to 212° F. (100°C). This method is great providing that you can calibrate said thermometer at sea level. The higher you rise is elevation the lower you boiling temperature drops-also associated with the increase of elevation is the increase in the length of time it takes for water to boil. As for the length of time it takes-I'll let you all figure that one out for yourselves.
Here is a chart that shows you the elevation and the corresponding boiling point. This chart shows both Feet & Meters and °F & °C. This Chart ranges from Sea level to 10,000 ft (3048 m) in 500 ft (152 m) increments.
The two methods of calibration is the Ice Bath method in which the thermometer is calibrated to 32° F. (or 0°C). To me this method is the most accurate providing that you know the proper way to do the ice water calibration. No matter what your elevation is, water freezes at 32°F (0° C). Check here for the How To Make A Proper Ice Bath video. Thanks goes out to AustinL for posting that video link!
The other method is the Boiling Water method in which you calibrate your thermometer to 212° F. (100°C). This method is great providing that you can calibrate said thermometer at sea level. The higher you rise is elevation the lower you boiling temperature drops-also associated with the increase of elevation is the increase in the length of time it takes for water to boil. As for the length of time it takes-I'll let you all figure that one out for yourselves.
Here is a chart that shows you the elevation and the corresponding boiling point. This chart shows both Feet & Meters and °F & °C. This Chart ranges from Sea level to 10,000 ft (3048 m) in 500 ft (152 m) increments.
Altitude compared to Sea Level | Boiling Point | ||
---|---|---|---|
(ft) | (m) | ([sup]o[/sup]F) | ([sup]o[/sup]C) |
0 | 0 | 212.0 | 100.0 |
500 | 152 | 211.0 | 99.5 |
1000 | 305 | 210.1 | 98.9 |
1500 | 457 | 209.1 | 98.4 |
2000 | 610 | 208.1 | 97.8 |
2500 | 762 | 207.2 | 97.3 |
3000 | 914 | 206.2 | 96.8 |
3500 | 1067 | 205.3 | 96.3 |
4000 | 1219 | 204.3 | 95.7 |
4500 | 1372 | 203.4 | 95.2 |
5000 | 1524 | 202.4 | 94.7 |
5500 | 1676 | 201.5 | 94.2 |
6000 | 1829 | 200.6 | 93.6 |
6500 | 1981 | 199.6 | 93.1 |
7000 | 2134 | 198.7 | 92.6 |
7500 | 2286 | 197.8 | 92.1 |
8000 | 2438 | 196.9 | 91.6 |
8500 | 2591 | 196.0 | 91.1 |
9000 | 2743 | 195.0 | 90.6 |
9500 | 2896 | 194.1 | 90.1 |
10000 | 3048 | 193.2 | 89.6 |
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