Temperature and its Measurement

Touching her feverish brother's forehead, Simmi says, "His fever is exactly 101 degrees, I can tell by hand." Her mother says a hand can only tell you warm-or-not, never the exact degree. Who is right?

Tanu dips a thermometer into hot water and reads it instantly, within a second — the reading is low. She says the water is not very hot. Her mother says a thermometer needs a little time. Who is right?

Tanishk says if the gas flame is turned up very high, water will get hotter than usual — say 110°C — and only then truly boil. His sister says water boils at one fixed temperature, however high the flame. Who is right?

Two thermometers are dipped in the same glass of water — one in Celsius (°C), one in Fahrenheit (°F). The first reads 30°C, the second 86°F. Ravi says since they show different numbers, one must be broken. Is Ravi right?

In the same cool room, Manav touches an iron chair leg and a wooden seat. The iron feels colder. Manav says the iron is actually colder than the wood. His sister says both are at the same temperature. Who is right?

In winter Pari wore one thick woollen sweater and her brother wore two thin layers — a t-shirt and a thin sweater. By evening both felt equally warm. Pari is puzzled since her sweater is supposed to be the "warmer" one. Does a thick sweater always give more warmth than layers?