Final answer:
True, digital thermostats utilize sensors such as thermistors to sense temperature, which change resistance with temperature variations, allowing the thermostat to accurately gauge ambient temperature.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement is True: Digital thermostats sense the temperature of a structure using sensors, such as thermistors. Thermistors are types of resistors whose resistance varies with temperature. This property is used to convert changes in temperature into electrical signals, which can then be measured to determine the ambient temperature of the environment.
In the context of medical thermometers, a digital device determines a patient's body temperature by measuring the resistance of a thermistor. The resistance changes in response to the patient's temperature, which allows the thermometer to calculate the exact temperature based on the known resistance at a baseline temperature, typically 37.0°C which represents normal body temperature.
An example of this process is when the resistance of a thermistor is 82.0% of its value at 37.0°C, the associated change in resistance corresponds to a specific temperature that the device calculates and presents on its digital display. This capability is crucial for accurate temperature readings in medical diagnostics and in maintaining a comfortable and controlled environment in homes and offices through thermostat settings.