# Thermoscope — Interactive Particle Models > Educational app visualizing temperature through particle motion and states of matter. (iPhone/iPad app by The Concord Consortium.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thermoscope/id1308457742 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [The Concord Consortium](https://appshunter.io/developer/890508659) - Category: Education - Price: Free - Rating: 5.00/5 from 1 App Store ratings - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 12 · 76 MB - Languages: English - Released: 2018-08-04 - Data updated: 2026-07-07 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thermoscope/id1308457742/reviews.md ## What is Thermoscope? With the Thermoscope you can “see” temperature. This “microscope for temperature” educational app provides a simplified visualization of particle movement that makes the temperature differences between two materials visible. Now you can explore the nature of temperature from the point of view of the particles that comprise matter! Two sensors display the temperature as particles (dots on screen) that move within respective large circles at speeds relative to the temperature—slow for cold, fast for hotter. Learn to treat temperature as an intensive variable (motion) as opposed to an extensive variable (amount of stuff), a common misconception reinforced by the red line that “increases” in a conventional thermometer. The Thermoscope can display preset material (wood and water) to show that not all material melts at the same temperature. The presets also allow users to see that particles as solids “wiggle” in a lattice. As the material touched by the sensor is heated, the lattice display breaks apart and particles flow around and near each other. The particles disperse to fly throughout the circle and move rapidly as the material is heated further. With two circular displays side by side users can compare the micro-world of particle speeds and observe the convergence of speeds (temperature) as hot and cold materials touch or mix. The Thermoscope shows the particles of hotter materials moving more quickly and colliding more frequently. Warming or cooling occurs through bumping with particles that are either faster or slower. The program contains simple, but scientifically accurate computational models of matter that can be configured for solids, liquids, and gases. The temperatures of two materials can either be simulated by slider settings or measured directly with probes connected to the app via a Web Bluetooth-enabled device. The physical Thermoscope has two fast-acting temperature probes labeled to correspond to the two displays. Instructions to build this Thermoscope kit will be part of a future version of this application. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under grant DRL- 1621299. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. ## Key features - Visualize particle motion related to temperature - Compare temperature differences between materials - Simulate solids, liquids, and gases - Observe phase transitions - Interactive particle simulations - Supports external temperature probes ## Frequently asked questions about Thermoscope ### What is Thermoscope? Thermoscope is an educational app that visualizes temperature by showing the motion of particles within different materials. It helps users understand temperature as particle motion rather than just a number. ### How does Thermoscope teach about temperature? It uses animated dots to represent particles, with their speed directly correlating to the material's temperature. This allows for a visual understanding of heat transfer and temperature differences. ### Can Thermoscope simulate different states of matter? Yes, the app contains scientifically accurate models that can be configured to display solids, liquids, and gases, showing how particle behavior changes with temperature. ### Does Thermoscope work with external sensors? Yes, Thermoscope can measure temperatures directly using probes connected to the app via a Web Bluetooth-enabled device, offering a more hands-on learning experience. ### What is the age rating for Thermoscope? Thermoscope has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of young learners and students. ### On which devices can I use Thermoscope? Currently, Thermoscope is supported on iPads, providing an interactive learning experience on a tablet format. ### How often is Thermoscope updated? The app was last updated on October 14, 2019, with version 1.2.2. Future versions are planned to include instructions for building a physical Thermoscope kit. ### Is Thermoscope free to use? Yes, Thermoscope is available for free, making this educational tool accessible to everyone without any cost. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 1.2.2 — 2019-10-14 Fix issue where tapping on the logo could freeze the app.  Also updated to fix iOS 13 rendering changes. ### 1.2.0 — 2019-06-21 - A new, friendlier user interface - Step-by-step instructions for creating your own temperature-mixing experiments ### 1.1.4 — 2019-03-29 New support URL. ### 1.1 — 2018-10-04 Updated UI to increase text size. Added additional simulation for wax. ### 1.0 — 2018-07-31 No release notes. ## Apps similar to Thermoscope | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [MatterBricks](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/matterbricks/id1662393233) | — | Free | Education | | [BOT Elementary Number Sense](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bot-elementary-number-sense/id1436534115) | — | Free | Education | | [Scavengar EDU - AR Education](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scavengar-edu-ar-education/id1532870198) | 4.4 (12) | Free | Education | | [Launchcraft](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/launchcraft/id1332544420) | 4.8 (99) | Free | Education | | [Biology Molecular Genetics P](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/biology-molecular-genetics-p/id1044157301) | — | Free | Education | | [Teachley Addimals EDU](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/teachley-addimals-edu/id1135468446) | 5.0 (3) | Free | Education | ## More apps by The Concord Consortium - [Thermonator](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thermonator/id1347541327) - [Particle Modeler](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/particle-modeler/id1437289434) - [Monitor Your World](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/monitor-your-world/id1499542910) All apps by The Concord Consortium: https://appshunter.io/developer/890508659 --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-07-07.*