Re: [Phys-l] Temperature vs Altitude

[John Denker <jsd@av8n.com>]

David Abineri wrote:
> If a mercury thermometer is lifted from sea level to, say, 500 miles 
> above the earth (well outside the atmosphere) always being kept in the 
> shade (shielded from the sun), what will the graph of the reading given 
> vs altitude look like? 

Here's the first 10% of the answer:
 http://profhorn.meteor.wisc.edu/wxwise/wxpilot/lesson1/lesson1b.html

> Is this the same question as:
> What would the graph of temperature (no restriction on the instrument 
> used) vs altitude from sea level to 500 miles in altitude?  If not, how 
> would this graph be different?

No, not the same.

Mercury thermometers don't work too well below the freezing point of
mercury.