Why is laboratory thermometer in cylindrical shape?

Answer 1

Great question. Let's look at why people might have made lab thermometers as a cylinder instead of another shape.

ADVANTAGES OF CYLINDRICAL SHAPE (IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER)

1. Takes advantage of mercury's(Hg) expansion as an indicator of temperature in an elegant way.
2. Rounded shape ensures uniform exposure of mercury to solution whose temperature is being measured.
3. Long, thin architecture ensures that scientist can place thermometer in solutions without touching them.
4. Easily manufactured; glass assumes a cylindrical (rounded) shape much more easily than a block-y shape with sharp edges. Making thermometers from glass is important for scientific applications, as glass is electrically neutral and a good insulator.
5. Tradition (always a factor in these sorts of things, no matter what anyone says) :)

Can you think of more reasons? That about exhausts what I can come up with on a first pass.