Why is Fahrenheit’s thermometer important?

Why is Fahrenheit’s thermometer important?

The mercury thermometer was invented in 1714 by Gabrield Daniel Fahrenheit, a German instrument maker. He also introduced the new temperature scale, known as the Fahrenheit scale after him. The zero on this scale was thirty two degrees below the freezing point of water on the Celsius scale i.e. zero degrees Celsius, and the boiling point of water i.e. hundred degrees Celsius was equal to 212 degrees Fahrenheit.


Mercury was more responsive to temperature changes, did not evaporate, and was therefore, preferable to any other liquid. Calibrated marks on the tube allow the temperature to be read by the length of the mercury within the tube. The end of the thermometer is usually shaped like a bulb. The expansion and contraction of the mercury can be noted by observing the bore of the tube. The space above the mercury was often filled with nitrogen or is a vacuum.


No Mercury


Today, the use of mercury thermometers for medical purposes is often not allowed. However, they are still widely used for meteorological purposes. Some reputed organizations in the world recommend that mercury thermometers not be sued as they are harmful both to the body and to the environment.