How does a thermometer work as a tool to measure thermal energy?

Answer 1

The first units of heat (Fahrenheit and Celsius) were created based on the thermometer. Not the other way around. That way, the thermometer would always be accurate.

The thermometer works by putting a specific amount of Mercury (a strange metallic substance) inside a tube of a specific volume. When the thermometer is heated, the mercury expands, pushing itself up the tube. The mark that it reaches is measured and recorded in degrees.

Answer 2

A thermometer works by measuring the expansion or contraction of a liquid (like mercury or alcohol) inside a sealed tube in response to changes in temperature. As thermal energy increases, the liquid expands and rises in the tube, providing a temperature reading. This measurement scale is then translated into degrees of temperature.