Diathermometer

/ˌdaɪ.əθərˈmɑm.ə.tər/ noun

Definition

An instrument that measures the transmission of heat or thermal radiation through a substance; a device for measuring diathermal properties.

Etymology

From Greek 'dia-' (through) + 'thermē' (heat) + '-meter' (measuring device), a technical term from 19th-century physics for thermal measurement instruments.

Kelly Says

A diathermometer might sound like an ordinary thermometer, but it's actually measuring something quite different—not temperature, but how easily heat passes through a material, which is crucial for designing spacecraft heat shields.

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