Thermometers

The History Of The Thermometer

Galileo is often given credit as the inventor of the thermometer. However, what Galileo invented was in fact not a thermometer, as we know it today, but its predecessor known as the thermoscope. The thermoscope was different from the thermometer in that it did not measure temperature difference but rather indicated temperature differences. The actual inventor of the thermometer is Santorio. Santorio, who applied a scale to the thermometer. Santorio’s device was an air thermometer and is considered by today’s standards to be a very poor cousin of the mercury thermometers we have all been acquainted with. Gabriel Fahrenheit invented the first mercury thermometer. The use of mercury led to a more dependable measurement of temperature than previous incarnations. Gabriel Fahrenheit was also responsible for developing a new temperature scale that used 32 as the freezing point of water.

Digital Thermometers

Digital thermometers are an alternative to the standard thermometer that using a scale. The advantages of using a digital thermometer are that you get an accurate reading as opposed to the standard thermometer where a person may misread the scale. They are much more expensive than the standard scale thermometer and may cost as much as $80. Digital Thermometers are available for sale at many photography specialty stores. Check with these stores first to see have they are on sale. This is an excellent way to pick up a quality digital thermometer and save money in the process. Online auction houses such as eBay are another excellent way to pick up thermometers that have been used. Check to make sure that the seller is reliable by reading the customer feedback and checking the seller’s rating.

Infrared Thermometers

Infrared thermometers are usually used in situations where there cannot be any direct contact between the measuring device and the substance. Moving pieces of equipment such as a conveyor belt may require that an infrared thermometer be used instead of a traditional mercury thermometer. The infrared thermometer measures temperature by measuring the amount of energy that is emitted; so any object warmer than absolute zero can be measured by an infrared thermometer. The price range for infrared thermometers is $80 to $300. You may be able to purchase a used infrared on one of the many online auction houses. This is an excellent way to pick up equipment you need without having to pay full price.