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Thermometer

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Key Stage 2

Meaning

A thermometer showing the temperature of the snow was -10°C.

A thermometer is a piece of equipment used to measure the temperature of an object.

Singular Noun: Thermometer
Plural Noun: Thermometers

About Thermometers

You must be very careful with thermometers because they are usually made of glass which can break and cut you.
Most thermometers have a range of temperatures they can measure and some temperatures they can't. If you put a glass thermometer in a fire it will melt.
A thermometer can show a negative temperature because the Celsius scale was chosen to have water freezing as 0 degrees Celsius. So anything colder than freezing water is given a negative temperature.

Examples

A scientist measured the temperature of the snow.
A Doctor measured the temperature of their patient.
A scientist wants to measure the temperature of the air in the laboratory.

Used in a Sentence

A thermometer was used to measure the temperature of the snow.
The temperature of the doctor's patient was found using a thermometer.
The scientist's thermometer showed the temperature in the laboratory was 20°C.

Key Stage 3

Meaning

A thermometer is a measuring instrument used to measure the temperature of an object.

About Thermometers

Thermometer usually give the temperature in degrees Celsius (°C).
Thermometers are usually made of glass so caution must be taken when using them so that they do not break.
Most thermometers have a range of temperatures they can measure and some temperatures they can't. If a glass thermometer is placed in a fire it will melt, so the temperature of the fire is beyond its range.
A thermometer can show a negative temperature because the Celsius scale was chosen to have water freezing as 0 degrees Celsius. So anything colder than freezing water is given a negative temperature.

Key Stage 4

Meaning

A thermometer is a measuring instrument used to measure the temperature of an object.

About Thermometers

Thermometers are usually made of glass so caution must be taken when using them so that they do not break.
Most thermometers have a range of temperatures they can measure and some temperatures they can't so the correct range should be chosen for the experiment.
A thermometer can show a negative temperature because the Celsius scale was chosen to have water freezing as 0 degrees Celsius. So anything colder than freezing water is given a negative temperature.
The resolution of a thermometer may be 1°C or 0.1°C given a small space between the markings or 0.5°C or 0.05°C if those markings are spaced far apart and it can be clearly seen when the temperature is half way between markings.
To use a thermometer accurately:

References

AQA

Thermometers, accuracy and precision of, pages 10, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy 2, Hodder, AQA
Thermometers, page 126, GCSE Biology; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
Thermometers, page 18, 108, GCSE Chemistry; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
Thermometers, page 233, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
Thermometers, pages 41, 237, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy; Chemistry, CGP, AQA
Thermometers, pages 41, 315, GCSE Chemistry, CGP, AQA

Edexcel

Thermometers, page 110, GCSE Chemistry; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
Thermometers, page 209, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
Thermometers, page 323, GCSE Chemistry, CGP, Edexcel

OCR

Thermometers, page 103, Gateway GCSE Chemistry; The Revision Guide, CGP, OCR
Thermometers, page 219, Gateway GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, OCR