Today for Macro Monday, I have a picture of a Galileo thermometer for you. They’re pretty things, aren’t they? Quite difficult to get a good macro shot, though, because of the distortion caused by the water and glass, plus the fact that this little section of the thing covers quite a bit of depth. Some of it is in focus, but not much! I think it still makes a fun picture though.
Most people use Galileo thermometers as decoration these days but in fact they’re reasonably accurate. Here’s how they work.
You have a glass tube filled with water, and it contains several hand blown glass ‘bubbles’. Each bubble contains a coloured liquid plus some air, and has a little weight attached to it, with a temperature engraved upon it. Now, the density of the water in the tube will change according to how warm or cool it is, and that makes the bubbles rise or fall, depending on whether they are less dense than the water or more dense than the water at any given temperature. The little glass bubbles are calibrated so that the one carrying the weight with the correct number on it will hang lowest in the water.  Any bubbles resting on the bottom can be disregarded.
The Galileo thermometer is based on a ‘thermoscope’ invented by Galileo Galilei in the early 1600s – and if that’s not impressive enough for you, he based his design on the principle of water displacement discovered by Archimedes, who died in 212 BC. Yes, that famous ‘Eureka!’ moment.
Sometimes, you just can’t improve on a good idea … although I guess you can find a way to make it more accurate!
Great photo – I love the multiple reflections! You did an excellent job of photographing a difficult subject.
villager´s last blog ..Macro Monday: Amaryllis Opening
You’ve done it! Outstanding photo and a well written explanation. Thank you.
John McDevitt´s last blog ..Monday Musings: Fun Christmas Tree Ornaments
Oh what a wonderful shot!! I have always wanted one of those! Beautiful, Sarah
Sarah´s last blog ..Macro Monday…
Lovely shot! We have the same thermometer, and it’s still in one piece – even with the cats!
babs – beetle´s last blog ..You get the bad news first!
awesome photo!!
meleah rebeccah´s last blog ..Devastation Nation
Villager – It wasn’t easy! Thank you!
John McDevitt – Thanks! How nice you are.
Sarah – Thank you! Yes, I think a lot of people covet one of these. They are lovely.
Babs – Amazing! Perhaps they don’t like glass? Or maybe they know there’s water inside and they don’t want to get wet when they break it? LOL!
Meleah – Thanks!
I don’t know how you managed that shot, but it’s great!
Galileo was a shear genius, wasn’t he? What a shame that he was imprisoned for his “radical” ideas…that the earth was not the center of the universe.
We’ve come a long way, baby.
ethelmaepotter´s last blog ..Funny Things Are Everywhere
Love this blog, fantastic and beautiful picture with a good story behind. Thanks for sharing.
Grace and Bradley´s last blog ..ABC Wednesday: V for Visual Arts
That’s a great shot Jay. I have been hankering after a Galileo thermometer for years but OH doesn’t like them… but one day!
granny grimble´s last blog ..A LITTLE BIT OF CHRISTMAS MAGIC
I love those thermometers, but with my luck either my cats or myself will knock it over and it will end up in the bin.
Mara´s last blog ..How Santa came to be
Wow! Beautiful AND useful. I never knew . . .
JD at I Do Things´s last blog ..I’m Throwing a Contest so you don’t have to
Glad you gave particulars, I didn’t know what I was looking at. Beautiful photo.
Very artsy. I’m so stuck for blog material, I might have to stretch the 50mm and get onto this bandwagon!
Baino´s last blog ..Perfect Day
I am thinking along the same lines as Baino, and I do have a lot of macro shots to choose from. I am even thinking of getting some extension tubes so I can get even closer ……. although, one only wants to get so close to some of the creepy crawlies around here. Perhaps I will stick to flowers. Anyhoo, I am just not quite sure I am ready for such a commitment. Still, the whole South America gig is about to be up, so I will need something else to write about. Perhaps I will do a Macro-whenever-I feel-like-it thing? It is either that or persuade Mr.DBM to go off travelling again. Macro-whatever-day it is then.
Don’t Bug Me!´s last blog ..Where the Giants Roam ………. Very Slowly.
Very cool photo. the colors in the glass are dazzling.
I love that kind of thermometer! So pretty as well as useful!
lisaschaos´s last blog ..Do I have to come in?
Wonderful shot!
Birgitta´s last blog ..Macro Monday – Insect
Ethel Mae Potter – Thanks! Yes, indeed, poor Galileo. We still have some way to go, but at least we’re past handing people over to the Inquisition because we don’t like their ideas. Aren’t we? Sometimes I wonder.
Grace & Bradley – How kind! Thank you!
Granny – Now, how on earth could someone not like them? What’s not to like? LOL!
Mara – Well, that would be no good at all – either for the thermometer or the cats!
JD – They are! Glad I could enlighten you .. so someone else didn’t have to.
Sistertex – Thanks – I guess I forget that not everyone will have seen one. Perhaps I should have included the whole thing? I’ll do that next time.
Baino – It would be lovely to have you on board with the macro stuff, but … stuck for blog material? How can this be? The only thing I’ve been stuck for recently is time, and I live in a far less interesting place than you! And you have horses!! LOL!
DBM – Well, there’s no need to feel you have to post in a meme every single week, and I know I’d love to see your macro shots! You should do it.
Teresa, Lisa’s Chaos and Birgitta – Thank you! Yes, they’re rather lovely.
A great shot. I love the blend of colours here.
Autumn Belle@kdp´s last blog ..V is for Violet Verbana – ABC Wednesday Round 5
Very pretty things aren’t they – I didn’t realise they were anywhere near accurate!!!
Kate´s last blog ..It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…..
Autumn Belle – Thanks!
Kate – Neither did I until I did a little research!