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Interesting problem ... basic engineering solution

So, today's engineering problem goes like this.


Someone in our family is dying their hair. The chemical (probably a Chromate-based hair dye) must be mixed with 180 ml of water at between 40 and 50 °C - if the temperature is too low, mixing is very difficult, too high and the compound breaks down, and perhaps you might not get the hair colour you need.


Simples ... except we have no thermometer.


How was this quick and easy to resolve?


  • I would not make assumptions about the temperature of tap water. I would suggest toss some ice cubes into a little water and leave in the fridge (not freezer) for a few hours. Then take off 90 ml of water from here, and add 90 ml of boiling water from the kettle. The result should be near enough 50 °C. Mix the dye before the mixture has had time to cool much.


    Don't get any ice into the mixture, or the latent heat required to melt the ice will mess up the figures.