Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Thermodynamic temperature is measured on the Kelvin scale, which starts at absolute zero.
A primary thermometer is an instrument used to measure thermodynamic temperatures directly from physical laws, without requiring calibration against other temperature scales.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us evaluate each type of thermometer:
- Constant-volume gas thermometer: This is a primary thermometer based on Charles's and Gay-Lussac's gas laws.
- Under constant volume conditions, the pressure (\(P\)) of an ideal gas is directly proportional to its thermodynamic temperature (\(T\)):
\[ P \propto T \]
- By measuring changes in pressure, we can determine the thermodynamic Kelvin temperature directly from fundamental principles.
- Thermocouples, Resistance thermometers (RTDs), and Thermistors: These are secondary thermometers.
- They measure changes in electrical properties (thermoelectric voltage or resistance) that vary with temperature.
- These devices must be calibrated against a primary standard (such as a gas thermometer) to relate their electrical outputs to the Kelvin scale.
Therefore, the constant-volume gas thermometer is the primary instrument used to measure Kelvin temperature.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The Kelvin temperature can be measured directly by a constant-volume gas thermometer. Hence, the correct option is (A).