termometro

A thermometer is a scientific instrument used to measure temperature or determine temperature changes. The device operates based on various physical principles that respond to thermal variations, including the expansion of liquids, changes in electrical resistance, or infrared radiation detection.

The most common types of thermometers include liquid-in-glass thermometers, which typically use mercury or colored alcohol in a sealed glass tube. As temperature increases, the liquid expands and rises within the tube, indicating the temperature on a calibrated scale. Digital thermometers use electronic sensors to detect temperature changes and display readings numerically. Infrared thermometers measure temperature from a distance by detecting thermal radiation emitted by objects.

Thermometers are calibrated using established temperature scales, primarily Celsius, Fahrenheit, and Kelvin. The Celsius scale sets the freezing point of water at 0 degrees and boiling point at 100 degrees under standard atmospheric conditions. The Fahrenheit scale uses 32 degrees and 212 degrees for these same reference points. The Kelvin scale, used primarily in scientific contexts, begins at absolute zero, the theoretical point where molecular motion stops.

The invention of the thermometer is attributed to several individuals throughout history, with early versions developed in the 16th and 17th centuries. Galileo Galilei created one of the first temperature-measuring devices around 1593, though it lacked a standardized scale. Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit and Anders Celsius later developed the temperature scales that bear their names.

Today, thermometers serve essential functions across numerous fields including medicine, meteorology, cooking, and industrial processes. Medical thermometers help diagnose fever and monitor health conditions, while weather stations use thermometers for climate monitoring. Industrial applications include quality control in manufacturing and safety monitoring in various processes. The device remains fundamental to both scientific research and everyday life due to its ability to provide accurate temperature measurements.