Thermometer
Thermometer
A thermometer is a device that measures temperature or a temperature gradient (the degree of hotness or coldness of an object). A thermometer has two important elements: (1) a temperature sensor (e.g. the bulb of a mercury-in-glass thermometer or the pyrometric sensor in an infrared thermometer) in which some change occurs with a change in temperature, and (2) some means of converting this change into a numerical value (e.g. the visible scale that is marked on a mercury-in-glass thermometer or the digital readout on an infrared model).
History[edit | edit source]
The thermometer was invented by Galileo Galilei in 1593. It was a tube filled with air, with a water-filled bulb at the bottom. As the air expanded or contracted with temperature changes, the water level in the tube would rise or fall, indicating the temperature.
Types of Thermometers[edit | edit source]
There are several types of thermometers, each with its own specific uses and advantages. These include:
- Mercury Thermometers: These are the traditional types of thermometers. They are made of a glass tube filled with mercury, which expands and rises up the tube as the temperature increases.
- Digital Thermometers: These thermometers use electronic sensors to measure temperature. They are often used in homes and medical facilities due to their accuracy and ease of use.
- Infrared Thermometers: These thermometers measure the infrared energy emitted by an object to determine its temperature. They are often used in industrial applications and in cooking.
- Bimetallic Strip Thermometers: These thermometers use a strip of two different metals that expand at different rates as the temperature changes. They are often used in thermostats and other devices that need to control temperature.
Uses[edit | edit source]
Thermometers are used in a variety of applications, including:
- Medical: Thermometers are used to measure body temperature in order to detect fever or other medical conditions.
- Industrial: Thermometers are used in various industrial applications to monitor and control temperature.
- Meteorological: Thermometers are used in weather stations to measure air temperature.
- Cooking: Thermometers are used in cooking to ensure that food is cooked to the correct temperature.
See Also[edit | edit source]
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