| Thermometer technology has improved vastly in | | | | temperature needs to be measured. They can |
| recent times. Lately, a new kind of | | | | even measure temperature from a remote |
| thermometer-the laser thermometer-is becoming | | | | location. It is only necessary that the path of the |
| much talked about. As the name suggests, this | | | | laser shouldn't be obstructed. It is for this reason |
| thermometer works on the laser principle. But | | | | that the laser-based thermometers are also called |
| that's all most people know about them. Let's get | | | | as non-touch thermometers. |
| to know these thermometers in a bit more detail | | | | 2. The results are instantaneous. This is a great |
| here. | | | | benefit, especially when creating clinical |
| What Are Laser Thermometers? | | | | thermometers for infants. By using thermometers |
| These are thermometers that work on the | | | | that work on the laser principle, it is no longer |
| principle of laser. When any substance is hot, it | | | | necessary to place the thermometer on the |
| radiates this heat from all of its parts. This causes | | | | patient's body and wait for a minute before taking |
| the molecules in this area to vibrate with greater | | | | the reading. |
| velocity. Laser can measure this increase in | | | | 3. All these thermometers are digital, which |
| velocity, and this is then converted into a | | | | makes it much easier to get readings from them. |
| temperature reading. This is the reading that a | | | | Applications |
| laser thermometer provides. | | | | These thermometers find a lot of versatile uses. |
| The shape of these thermometers is more or | | | | 1. They are used in measuring body |
| less like a gun. There's a region from where the | | | | temperatures, especially in the form of ear |
| laser is emitted. The laser ray is directly pointed | | | | thermometers, which are extensively used for |
| to the surface whose temperature is to be | | | | measuring body temperature in babies. |
| measured. Though the path of the ray cannot be | | | | 2. They are used to find the temperature of |
| seen clearly, the point at which the ray touches | | | | food. Whether food is just removed from the |
| the surface can be seen as a bright red dot. | | | | refrigerator or from the oven, these |
| Within moments, the temperature of this incident | | | | thermometers can accurately tell what its |
| area is reported by the thermometer. | | | | temperature is, which helps you decide whether |
| Since any hot body will emit an equal amount of | | | | you want to eat the food or wait a while. |
| heat radiation from all of its parts, these laser | | | | 3. They are used in industry in determining places |
| based thermometers can be pointed at any point | | | | where there might be heat leakages. A routine |
| on the surface of the body. The reading is almost | | | | laser thermometer scan of the whole area will |
| similar, irrespective of where this actual point is | | | | show if there's any place where there's excessive |
| located. This becomes an advantage of laser | | | | heating. |
| thermometers over other thermometers, which | | | | 4. Similarly, they are used by firefighters. If a |
| need to be positioned in specific ways on the | | | | particular area is just about to catch fire, a laser |
| body whose temperature is to be measured. | | | | thermometer will be able to find its increased |
| Advantages | | | | temperature in advance, and hence it will give the |
| 1. Laser thermometers don't really need to be | | | | firefighters some advance warning. |
| brought in contact with the object whose | | | | |