How Did Fahrenheit Contribute To The Discovery Of Thermometer

Fahrenheit, commonly known as a unit of measurement for temperature which is regarded as an official scale in the modern society of the United States and other Caribbean countries. It is the first standardised temperatures scale which was adapted globally in the seventeenth century. This great invention is named after a German science instrument maker, Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686- 1736). His invention has revolutionised the design of thermometer in 1724, when he conducted the thermometer with mercury instead of alcohol. This innovation has made a significant contribution to the medical field and was a step up in the development of thermometer.
Gabriel Fahrenheit was a Polish-born Dutch physicist raised in a wealthy merchant family. After the death of his parents, he was sent to a shopkeeper and studied business in Amsterdam. He gradually grew an interest in manufacturing scientific instruments. He travelled widely to observe and learn from scientists and makers of instruments in other fields. In his younger years, Fahrenheit established himself as a maker of scientific instruments and published his only scientific …show more content…
The previous thermometer design was invented by Galileo and Guillaume Amontons, used a combination of alcohol and water. When the temperature rose, the alcohol would expand and the level within the thermometer would increase. However, this method was unable to give accurate temperature readings due to changes in air pressure in different locations. In Fahrenheit’s investigation, he has developed a method of cleaning mercury (Hg) which allowed it to rise and fall without lingering onto sides of the tube. He discovered that mercury expanded at a more constant rate and was able to detect higher and lower temperatures than alcohol. After a series of experiments, he has also determined the boiling point of