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Measure temperature informally

Temperature is an attribute that describes how hot or cold something is; it can be compared using terms such as warmer, cooler, hotter, colder, and about the same. Informal measurement involves ordering familiar temperatures and interpreting simple thermometer indications as showing relative temperature, without requiring precise standard-unit readings, conversions between Celsius and Fahrenheit, or calculations.

Detailed Explanation: Measure temperature informally

Temperature tells us how hot or cold something is.

  • Warmer or hotter means more heat.
  • Cooler or colder means less heat.
  • If two temperatures feel alike, they are about the same.

On a simple thermometer, a higher colored line shows a warmer temperature. A lower colored line shows a cooler temperature.

Example:
A thermometer for a sunny playground shows a red line near the top. A thermometer for a refrigerator shows a red line near the bottom. Which place is warmer?

  1. Look at the red lines on both thermometers.
  2. The playground thermometer’s line is higher.
  3. A higher line means warmer.
  4. Therefore, the playground is warmer than the refrigerator.

The refrigerator is cooler than the playground.

Learn by doing: Measure temperature informally

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Measurement Less or More - Temperature (metric)


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