Measuring Extreme Temperatures

Abstract

II. Extension of the Range of the Gas-Thermometer. THE methods of measurement so far considered are in a certain sense arbilrary in so far as they depend on extra, polation of empirical formulæ. If all these methods could be reduced by direct comparison to perfect agreement with each other, a definite scale of temperature would be attained to which all measurements could be referred, and which would leave nothing to be desired from a purely practical point of view. It is probable that this scale would not differ much from the theoretical or absolute scale of temperature. For theoretical investigations, however, without which no true scientific advance can be made, it is a matter of such fundamental importance to refer every measurement to the absolute scale, that no opportunity should be neglected of extending the possible range of accurate observation with the gas-thermometer, because this instrument affords at present the closest approximation to the absolute or theoretical scale. A consideration of the difficulties of the methods of gas-thermometry at present in use will lead naturally to the best methods of extending the range and accuracy of the instrument.