What is temperature exactly? Well, you know how it feels to stand outside waiting for the bus in cold weather. You also know how a hot bath feels. Those are two extremes of temperature – hot and cold.
You probably also know which temperature you like best. Some people prefer cool temperatures. Others like it hot. But, how is temperature measured?
Fun Facts about Temperature for Kids
- Galen, a doctor, was the first to develop a standard method for describing temperature in A.D. 170.
- The first thermometers were developed in the 1600s. They were called thermoscopes and used air to measure temperatures.
- In 1664, Robert Hook developed a thermometer that used dyed alcohol. The alcohol expanded in warm temperatures and contracted in cold temperatures. Weather records kept from this period are the first reliable records we have.
- Gabriel Fahrenheit made the first mercury thermometer in 1724. He also made the Fahrenheit scale. The boiling point on this scale is 212 degrees, while the freezing point is 32 degrees.
- Most of the world uses the Celsius scale, which was adopted in 1948.
Temperature Vocabulary
- Alcohol: a substance made from fermented juice
- Expand: become larger
- Contract: become smaller
Learn More All About Temperature
Watch and listen to this video about temperature:
A video song about the thermometer.
Temperature Q&A
Question: What is the average temperature of my body?
Answer: The human body’s temperature is usually 98.6. It rises when you’re sick, which is called running a fever.
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Question: Do all mammals have the same body temperature?
Answer: No. Rabbits, for example, have a body temperature of 101.3. An owl’s temperature is 104.4. Hibernating animals have much lower body temperatures. A hibernating opossum’s temperature falls from 95 to 50.9 degrees.
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