What are pressure-sensitive thermistors?

A pressure-sensitive thermistor is like a smart thermometer that also knows when you squeeze it.

Imagine you have a cookie jar that tells you how many cookies are left, but only if you press it. That’s kind of what a pressure-sensitive thermistor does, except instead of counting cookies, it measures temperature and also feels when something pushes or pulls on it.

Think of it like a stretchy rubber band inside a thermometer. When you press on the thermistor, it changes shape, just like your rubber band would if you squeezed it. This change affects how much electricity can flow through it, which lets it know two things: how hot or cold it is and how hard something is pressing on it.

These thermistors are used in places where both temperature and pressure matter, like inside your phone, when you press a button, or even in some toys that get warmer the more you squeeze them. It’s like having two sensors in one little package!