Thermometers have been used since the late 16th century to measure temperature. Galileo Galilei invented the first water thermometer in 1593. Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit later invented the mercury thermometer in 1714, which is the design still used today. A thermometer works by having mercury, water, or alcohol expand or contract based on temperature changes, moving along a numerical scale to indicate the reading. Thermometers are commonly used to measure air and atmospheric temperatures.

1. ThermometerAshlee & Karlee

2. History and InventorThey were first called thermoscopes. Galileo Galilei invented the first water thermometer in 1593, this was the first time temperature could be measured.Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit invented the first mercury thermometer in 1714; the modern day use. He also founded the Fahrenheit scale. Anders Celsius invented the Celsius scale.

3. What it is used forA thermometer is one of the basic tools for measuring air temperature.More specifically thermometers are instruments used to measure the atmospheric heat.

4. How it worksThe mercury, water, or alcohol in the middle of a thermometer moves up and down along the numerical scale as the temperature rises or drops.

5. What it looks like

6. Work Citedhttp://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blthermometer.htmhttp://www.mapsofworld.com/referrals/weather/meteorology/thermometer.htmlhttp://www.biglearning.org/thermometer.htmhttp://www.ehow.co.uk/how_5108229_use-weather-instruments.htmlhttp://www.energyquest.ca.gov/how_it_works/thermometer.htmlhttp://femme.ee/http://www.labsafety.com/COOPER-ATKINS-Weather-Thermometer--40-to-120F-_s_37561/Thermometers_27471503/?isredirect=true