Thermometer

A thermometer is a tool used to measure temperature. It consists of a narrow, sealed glass tube marked with graduations and contains a liquid (usually mercury or colored alcohol) that expands and contracts as the temperature changes. The liquid moves up or down the tube to indicate the temperature.

Types of Thermometers

There are several types of thermometers commonly used:

Mercury Thermometer: It uses mercury as the liquid and has been widely used for measuring body temperature, but due to the potential health hazards of mercury, it has been largely replaced by digital thermometers.
Digital Thermometer: It uses electronic heat sensors to measure temperature and provides a digital display of the reading.
Infrared Thermometer: It measures temperature from a distance by detecting the amount of thermal radiation emitted by the object being measured.
Thermocouple Thermometer: It uses two different metals joined together to produce a small voltage related to the temperature.

Reading a Thermometer

When reading a thermometer, it's important to understand the scale being used. The most common scales are Celsius (°C) and Fahrenheit (°F).

Celsius: In the Celsius scale, water freezes at 0°C and boils at 100°C. The Celsius scale is used in most countries around the world.

Fahrenheit: In the Fahrenheit scale, water freezes at 32°F and boils at 212°F. The Fahrenheit scale is used primarily in the United States and a few other countries.

Temperature Conversion

It's often necessary to convert temperature from one scale to another. The following formulas can be used for conversion:

Celsius to Fahrenheit: °F = (°C × 9/5) + 32

Fahrenheit to Celsius: °C = (°F - 32) × 5/9

Study Guide

Here are some key points to remember about thermometers:

Understand the different types of thermometers and their uses.
Know how to read a thermometer and interpret the temperature based on the scale being used.
Be familiar with the formulas for converting temperature between Celsius and Fahrenheit.
Practice using different types of thermometers to measure temperature in various settings.

Understanding thermometers and temperature measurement is important for everyday activities, science experiments, and various industries. Mastering the concept of temperature and how to measure it accurately will serve you well in many aspects of life.