What principle governed the operation of Galileo Galilei's thermoscope around 1593?
Answer
The expansion and contraction of air when subjected to heat or cold
Galileo Galilei's device, known as a thermoscope, functioned based on the inherent physical property of air to expand when heated and contract when cooled. This change in volume indicated a change in temperature. Although this was a major advancement over qualitative assessment, it was limited because it relied only on air movement and lacked a standardized scale, meaning its readings could not be universally compared across different instruments or locations. It demonstrated temperature change indication but fell short of true measurement because it lacked defined fixed points for calibration.
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