warmed its heat content and temperature rise simultaneously; the distinction is once again obscured. Perhaps the seedsof confusion are planted long before students begin their formal education on the subject. For many, the first scientific measuring device encountered in life is a thermometer. Regretahly, its name does not make clear exactly what it measures. Most dictionaries trace the root thermo to the Greek therme, meaning heat. Thus, for examole. . . thermodvnamics treats the relationshiu between heat and mechaniral energy, m d thrrmnele~tr~rny isgenerute~lhv heat. Rv this thinkins a " t I ~ r r m ~ ~ m e t e r " s l ~ ~ measure , u b l heat. not temperature. ~ i e r is, e in fact, no device which measures heat content, althouah calorimeters measure changes in that property. (In fairness to the person who name2 the thermometer centuries ago, we should acknowledge that, although most dictionaries do not so state, thermo may also be construed to be derived from thermos, the Greek for hot. Indeed, a thermometer does measure hotness.) T o avoid all chance for confusion, what shall we call these elass tubes with mercurv bulbs a t their bottoms? Measurine ievices are usually named for the quantity measure2 (odometer. barometer. snectronhotometerl. or.. less commonlv. ., for the unit used (ammeter,'voltmeter, ohmmeter). But a tempermeter would he confused with a gadget a psychologist might someday invent to measure a person's disposition, and adeareemeter with amathematician's ~rotractor.Cekimeters wouid create the confusing necessity for Fahrenheitmeters and Kelvinmeters. Still in search of the ideal name, we might ask: Precisely what is temperature? Two objects are said to have different temoeratures if heat will soontaneouslv flow from one to the other upon contact. Thus, temperature is a measure of heat (colori, Latin for heat) movine (kinetic) ahilitv. (ootential). . Devices which measure tmpernturo must he calvrikinvlrr polrntromdPrs. Nut only d ~ wthis i name trll *,hat the d r v ~ c e
does, it tells what temperature does. Of course, we could call them temperature gauges. But doesn't that lack elegance?
Mole-Bile Several months ago Neil Radtke, North Division High School, Milwaukee, WI, sent in the "Mole-hile"shown below. Neil writes: "Milton the Mole" hangs in my chemistry lab from the beginning of the school year until the end. He provides an extremelv useful reminder of the various lusesl of the mole. [To make the "Mole-bile"] I suggest a siurd;construction oaoer . . . . . . The loneest lieht wooden rod measures 1.6 m. Multistrand N y l o ~f ~ s hline t:,O lh. test). . .suppurts thesystem. "Milton" hns uther uses. I t a test is too difficult or an assignment too long, "Milton" did it! d~
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Volume 55, Number 9, September 1978 1 599
