What instrument might be affected by extreme temperatures during ground operations?

The gyroscope is the correct answer because it operates based on principles that can be affected by temperature fluctuations. In aviation, gyroscopic instruments rely on precise balance and rotation to provide accurate information regarding the aircraft's orientation and movement. Extreme temperatures can influence the viscosity of lubricants inside the gyroscope and potentially lead to precession errors or a slow response, impairing its performance and accuracy.

While other instruments like the altimeter, torque indicator, and fuel flow gauge are also designed to function under various conditions, they either have less direct exposure to temperature changes or their readings are less susceptible to such variations. For example, the altimeter is primarily affected by air pressure rather than temperature, and the torque indicator measures engine output, which is more stable unless there are severe external environmental conditions. The fuel flow gauge operates on fuel pressure measurements that can be affected by temperature but is generally calibrated to account for typical temperature variations.