Item Number: 3153999
This item is available for giftwrap!
- Wood base with glass disk
- Measures 7.5" tall
A Stylish, Modern Update on the Classic Weather Gauge
This unique variation on the traditional Galileo thermometer is eye-catching and functional. Suspended on a 7.5" tall wooden base, the glass disk contains 7 multicolored buoyant glass balls. The metal medallions indicate the surrounding temperature. A perfect compliment to any desk or study.
The Galilean thermometer works due to the principle of buoyancy, a force exerted by a fluid that opposes an object's weight. As the temperature of the air outside the thermometer changes, the temperature of the water surrounding the bubbles also changes. When the temperature of the water changes, it either expands or contracts, changing its density. Each bubble also differs slightly in density from the other bubbles. The bubble that sinks the most indicates the approximate current temperature.
Named for “The father of modern observational astronomy,” Galileo Galilei, an Italian physicist and astronomer responsible for many astronomical advancements. The liquid inside the thermometer is actually a mixture of water and paraffin oil.