Understanding Thermometers

What is a Thermometer?

• A device used to measure temperature, which is how hot or cold something is.
• Can measure the temperature of different things, such as the air outdoors or something being cooked in the kitchen.

Scales of Temperature

• Temperature is measured in degrees.
• There are two different scales for measuring temperature: Celsius and Fahrenheit.
• It's important to check which scale is being used when reading a thermometer because there are big differences between the scales.

Reading a Thermometer

• Most thermometers use marks and an arrow, or a liquid that rises up to a line, to show the temperature.
• Increments on a thermometer refer to the numbered marks, such as fives or tens, which make the thermometer smaller.
• To read a thermometer, determine the increment, then count the little lines between the increments to find the temperature.

Understanding Increments

• Increments can be counted by twos, fives, or tens.
• Typically, thermometers have lines that stand for single digits or twos.
• Count the little lines from one increment to another to determine what they stand for.

Determining the Temperature

• To find the temperature, look at the arrow or liquid line of the thermometer.
• If it points to an increment number, the temperature is easy to read.
• If it points to a little line, go to the lower number increment and count up, being careful to remember what the lines stand for.

Learn about thermometers, devices used to measure temperature, and their various applications.