5. Lactometer

The lactometer comprises a long calibrated test tube with a cylindrical bulb with a graduation of \(15\) \(cm\) at the top and \(45\) \(cm\) at the bottom.

The test tube is completely filled with air. This air chamber causes the device to float when it is placed in the milk.

In addition, the spherical portion of the bulb is filled with mercury to make the lactometer to sink up to the proper level and float in an upward position in milk.

A thermometer is placed inside the lactometer, which extends from the bulb into the upper portion of the test tube where the scale is located.

A proper lactometer reading be achieved only at a temperature of \(60\) degrees Fahrenheit. A lactometer is an instrument that measures the amount of cream present in milk.

The lower the lactometer floats in the milk, the more cream there is.

Quality milk has an average reading of \(32\).

Lactometers are used in the milk production process.