A Thermometer is placed in direct sunlight. Will it read the temperature of the air, or the sun, or of something else?

1 Answer
A08
Jan 10, 2018

When thermometer is placed in direct sunlight initially it will read the temperature of its surroundings or temperature of air surrounding the glass bulb or the sensor which could be metal also.

A normal thermometer can not be used to measure temperature of sun as both are very far away from each other.

If the thermometer is kept in direct sun for a longer period of time the temperature of its sensor will increase due to direct heat radiation from sun falling on it. Therefore, it will show a temperature higher than the true ambient temperature.

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