Question

The first thermometer was developed by:
(A). Joule
(B). Fahrenheit
(C ). Galileo
(D). Watt

Answer 1

- Hint: Thermometers used to measure temperature with the help of materials that will change in some way when they are exposed to heat or cool. Galileo invented a rudimentary water thermometer. It is considered as the fundamental primitive model of thermometer.

Complete step-by-step solution -

In earlier times, thermometers are also known as thermoscopes. Several scientists tried to make their own thermoscopes with different materials and designs. Galileo Galilei developed a rudimentary water thermometer in 1593. It could measure the temperature variations also. The basic principle of this thermometer was the expansion of air by heating and contraction by cooling. After this, Gabriel Fahrenheit developed the first mercury thermometer, and which is the basis of modern thermometers. So, the correct answer is option (c).

Additional information: Thermometer is a Greek word. It is actually combined in two terms; thermo and meter and it means warm and to measure respectively. It is an instrument that can be used to measure the temperature of a system in a quantitative way. The thermometer is working with materials that can change in some way when they are exposed to heat or cool. In a mercury thermometer the liquid expands as it is heated and it will contract when it cools. Modern thermometers are well developed and calibrated with standard temperature units such as Fahrenheit or Celsius. According to the physical basis primary and secondary thermometers are available.
Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit invented the mercury thermometer in 1714 and Fahrenheit scale in 1724. Anders Celsius has developed a Celsius scale for the temperature measurement. Thomson Kelvin was the person who invented the Kelvin scale in 1848. He developed the idea about absolute temperature also.

Note: Fahrenheit developed mercury thermometer and Fahrenheit scale only after Galileo's invention of thermometer. This model was a basic model for thermometers. James Watt is well known for steam engine developments. James Prescott Joule has done most of the work related to thermodynamics. Before these advancements, Galileo developed the idea of thermometer and paved a new way for the measurement of temperature.