NFPA CFPS Exam - Topic 4 Question 16 Discussion

Actual exam question for NFPA's CFPS exam

Question #: 16
Topic #: 4

What temperature measurement device consists of a pair of wires of different metals or alloys welded together at a point to form a junction to compare the voltage magnitude compared with a compensating junction at 0C and the voltage difference calibrated to give the temperature in degrees?

ALiquid Expansion Thermometer

BBimetallic Thermometer

CThermocouple

DPyrometer

Show Suggested Answer

Suggested Answer: C

The correct answer is C. A thermocouple is a temperature measurement device that consists of a pair of wires of different metals or alloys welded together at a point to form a junction. The junction is exposed to the temperature to be measured, while the other end of the wires is connected to a reference junction at 0C. The thermocouple produces a voltage difference between the two junctions that depends on the temperature difference. This voltage difference can be calibrated to give the temperature in degrees using a thermocouple table or a formula123

by Gwenn at Nov 22, 2025, 12:36 PM

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Veronica

3 months ago

Definitely C. The voltage comparison is a big hint.

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Rutha

3 months ago

I remember learning about thermocouples in class. They’re reliable!

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Fallon

3 months ago

I was torn between B and C, but C makes more sense.

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Kaycee

4 months ago

I feel confident about this one. The junction detail is key.

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Aretha

4 months ago

Agreed! Thermocouples are widely used for temperature measurement.

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Allene

4 months ago

I think it's C) Thermocouple. It fits the description perfectly.

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Trevor

5 months ago

Totally agree, thermocouples are super accurate!

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Cristal

5 months ago

Surprised it's not more complicated than that!

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Eulah

5 months ago

Wait, isn't that a pyrometer?

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Zita

5 months ago

I thought it was a bimetallic thermometer.

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Fidelia

5 months ago

Haha, who needs a fancy Thermocouple when you can just stick your hand in the fire and feel the temperature? Just kidding, Thermocouple is the way to go.

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Bobbie

5 months ago

Thermocouple, definitely. I remember learning about that in my physics class. Sounds like the most accurate option.

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Nelida

6 months ago

I keep mixing up thermocouples and pyrometers. I think thermocouples are the right choice here, but I need to double-check my notes.

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Niesha

6 months ago

I practiced a similar question on temperature sensors, and I think thermocouples were mentioned as the ones that use voltage differences.

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Bernardo

6 months ago

I'm not entirely sure, but I feel like the answer might be bimetallic thermometers. They also use metal properties, but I can't recall the specifics.

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Eliz

6 months ago

I think this is about thermocouples, right? I remember studying how they work with different metals to measure temperature.

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Kristofer

6 months ago

Hmm, I think the thermocouple is the way to go here. The description matches up pretty well, and I remember the professor going over how they work. I'll mark that as my final answer.

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Bernardine

6 months ago

Wait, is it a pyrometer? The question mentions measuring temperature, and a pyrometer uses radiation to determine the temp. I'm a bit unsure now, maybe I should double-check the definitions.

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Milly

7 months ago

I'm pretty sure it's the Thermocouple. Sounds like the most technical answer.

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Carmen

7 months ago

Thermocouple, of course! That's the one with the magic wires that can tell the temperature.

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Bernadine

7 months ago

Okay, I've got this. It's definitely a thermocouple - the key details are the pair of different metal wires and the voltage comparison to a reference junction. I'm confident this is the right answer.

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Cherry

7 months ago

That's definitely a thermocouple!

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Lore

7 months ago

Hmm, Thermocouple seems like the right choice here. I bet it's the one that can measure really high temperatures too.

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Brandon

8 months ago

Ugh, I'm not sure about this one. The wording is really confusing. I'll have to think it through carefully and try to eliminate the options that don't fit the description.

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Donte

8 months ago

Hmm, this sounds like it's asking about a thermocouple. I remember learning about those in class - they use the voltage difference between two different metals to measure temperature.

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