Science Common Sense

321 - How do we measure temperature?

We measure temperature using a device called a thermometer. It has a liquid inside (usually mercury or a special liquid) that expands or contracts when the temperature changes.

Here's how it works:

1. When it's hot, the liquid expands and moves up the thermometer.
2. When it's cold, the liquid contracts and moves down the thermometer.
3. The thermometer has marks on it to show the temperature, usually in degrees (like Celsius or Fahrenheit).
4. By reading the marks where the liquid is, we can tell the temperature.

There are also digital thermometers that use electronics to measure temperature, but they still work on the same basic idea.