🔍 Key Concepts

• heat transfer mechanisms between the process fluid, the well, and the thermometer bulb • the effect of an extra thermal barrier (metal well + any air gaps) on response time • difference between accuracy of final temperature reading vs speed of response

💭 Think About

• Think about what happens when you put a protective sleeve between the hot (or cold) fluid and the sensing bulb – does that make heat flow faster or slower? • If it takes longer for heat to pass through metal and any gaps, what does that do to the time it takes the thermometer to match the true system temperature? • Once enough time has passed, would you expect the final stabilized reading to be higher, lower, or the same as the actual fluid temperature?

✅ Before You Answer

• Distinguish clearly between steady‑state accuracy (after waiting long enough) and transient response time (how fast the reading changes). • Ask: does the protective well add thermal mass or insulation that would slow the rate of temperature change at the bulb? • Verify which choice talks about time to reach equilibrium, not about permanently higher/lower readings or sensitivity.