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What Is The History Behind The Galileo Thermometer?

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The thermometer portion of the instrument works is based on the Natural Law of Physics that was discovered by Galileo Galilei. Galileo is often called the Father of Modern Physics. It was Galileo who established the principle that liquids change in density as temperature changes.

While searching for the exact temperature measurements, the brilliant Galileo discovered a fascinating method. It is thought that Galileo got cold while outside at night using his other invention, the telescope, and learned that in liquid, a solid body of the same weight and size is compelled to go down as the temperature rises. On the other had, the solid body goes up in liquid if the temperature falls.

The modern Galileo Thermometer is a replica based on Galileo’s experiments. When the temperature rises, the liquid in the glass cylinder becomes less dense and spheres sink slowly, one by one. On the other hand, the spheres will rise as the temperature decreases. In these instruments, the glass balls in the tube differ in weight and considering the density of the liquid, the lowest of the floating balls in the upper part of the cylinder will indicate the correct temperature. Each ball has a temperature tag on it so it is easily readable.

The side mounted Barometer Tube or Water Barometer on the Thermometer on the Thermometer Barometers and Weather Stations date back to the early 17th century in Europe. This was a time when farmers and mariners relied on instruments such as this to predict changes in the weather. The rise and fall of the fluid in the vertical tube indicates a change in barometric pressure and coming weather conditions. If the fluid rises, there is a chance of bad weather and falling fluid indicates chance of fair weather.

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