Contact Temperature Sensors Explained

This course provides a detailed introduction to the most common types of contact temperature sensors used in engineering and industrial systems. You’ll learn how thermocouples, resistance temperature detectors (RTDs), and thermistors operate, along with the scientific principles that allow them to measure temperature accurately.

The course begins with traditional liquid thermometers before progressing into modern electronic sensing technologies capable of transmitting signals for automated control systems. You’ll explore the Seebeck effect used in thermocouples, resistance-based temperature measurement in RTDs, and the behavior of positive and negative temperature coefficient thermistors.

Through practical engineering examples and clear explanations, the course compares the advantages, limitations, accuracy, sensitivity, and applications of each sensor type. Topics such as thermoelectric theory, platinum RTDs, semiconductor behavior, and industrial sensor selection are also covered.

By the end of this course, you’ll understand how different contact temperature sensors function and how engineers select the most suitable sensor for a given application.