This activity guides you on how to make a thermometer with common materials in your home.
Scientists measure and compare air temperature at different locations in order to forecast the weather. This information is also important for understanding local, regional, and yearly temperature changes.
A change in temperature can cause the air to become larger or smaller. As the temperature warms up in the summer, the air will expand (grow). As the temperature cools down in the fall, the air will contract (shrink).
Warm and cold air interact with each other, forming clouds, rain, and storms. Scientists want to keep an eye on daily temperatures in order to forecast the weather. Earth-observing satellites like the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) help scientists measure air, land and ocean surface temperatures. Scientists then use these data to understand how temperature influences the weather and let us know if it’s too hot or too cold to go outside.
Make a thermometer!
