Thermometern

Thermometern is the plural form of Thermometer in German-language usage, used to refer to multiple instruments or a collection of thermometers. In English texts, the corresponding term is thermometers. The article below describes the general properties and usage of thermometers as a class of temperature-measuring devices.

The principal sensing elements include liquid-in-glass (mercury or alcohol), bimetallic strips, resistance temperature detectors (RTDs) such as platinum RTDs, thermistors, thermocouples, and infrared sensors. Each type translates a temperature change into a measurable signal such as liquid expansion, resistance change, or emitted infrared radiation. This diversity allows thermometern to cover a wide range of environments and applications.

Key performance characteristics include temperature range, accuracy, resolution, response time, stability, and environmental tolerance. Liquid-in-glass thermometers are simple and inexpensive for general use; RTDs and thermistors provide high accuracy and stability; thermocouples span very wide temperature ranges; infrared thermometers enable non-contact measurement and rapid readings. Selection depends on required range, precision, and how the device will interact with the measured substance.

In practice, instruments are calibrated against fixed points or reference standards; traceability to recognized standards and laboratories is maintained through regular calibration checks and documentation. Proper calibration helps ensure consistent measurements across devices and time.

Applications of thermometern span medicine (clinical thermometers), meteorology (weather stations), industry (process control), food safety (temperature monitoring), and scientific research. The term derives from Greek words for heat and measure, reflecting the device’s core function of quantifying temperature.