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Getting Warm

Thermoscope invented by Galileo Galilei in the early 1600s.

A brief on the science behind it:

Archimedes’ Principle: Objects float or sink depending on whether they are less or denser than the fluid they’re in.

 

Liquid Density: The clear liquid inside the thermoscope expands slightly as it warms, making it less dense. When it cools, it contracts and becomes denser.

 

Calibrated Bulbs: Each colored glass bulb has a small metal tag with a specific weight. These weights are carefully chosen so that at certain temperatures, the buoyant force matches the bulb’s weight.

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Uploaded on November 10, 2025
Taken on November 10, 2025