Log out Go to App
Go to App

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 11: Problem 20

Describe how a mercury barometer works.

Short Answer

Expert verified
A mercury barometer works by measuring atmospheric pressure through the use of a closed glass tube filled with mercury, which is then inverted into a mercury reservoir. As the mercury flows into the reservoir from the tube, a vacuum is created and the weight of the mercury column balances the atmospheric pressure. The height of the mercury column, which is directly proportional to atmospheric pressure, is measured using a ruler or scale. High atmospheric pressure indicates clear weather, while low pressure can signal rain or storms. This information helps meteorologists predict weather changes and scientists understand atmospheric dynamics.

Step by step solution

01

Purpose of a Barometer

The purpose of a mercury barometer is to measure atmospheric pressure. It measures the pressure that the atmosphere exerts due to its weight at a particular location, which helps meteorologists predict weather changes and helps scientists understand the dynamics of the atmosphere.
02

Components of a Mercury Barometer

A mercury barometer consists of three main parts: 1. A glass tube about 1 meter long, with its one end closed and the other end open. 2. A reservoir of mercury, providing a stable base for the device. 3. A ruler or scale to measure the height of the mercury column inside the glass tube.
03

Filling the Tube with Mercury

The mercury is initially poured into the glass tube until it is almost full. The open end of the tube is then sealed with the thumb or a rubber stopper to prevent air from entering the tube.
04

Inverting the Tube into the Reservoir

The sealed tube is then carefully inverted into the reservoir, making sure that no air gets in and the open end is submerged in the mercury reservoir. Once submerged, the seal or thumb can be removed.
05

Creating a Vacuum in the Tube

Due to gravity, the mercury from the tube will flow into the reservoir, creating an empty space at the top of the tube. This empty space is a vacuum, which means that there is no air or gas exerting pressure on the mercury inside the tube.
06

Balancing Atmospheric Pressure

The atmospheric pressure outside the barometer exerts a force on the mercury in the reservoir. As the mercury in the tube is not affected by air pressure in the vacuum, the weight of the mercury column in the glass tube creates a balance with the atmospheric pressure. This results in the column of mercury settling at a certain height in the tube.
07

Measuring Atmospheric Pressure

The height of the mercury column inside the tube is measured using a ruler or scale. The height of the mercury column is directly proportional to the atmospheric pressure. The pressure is usually measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) or torr. To convert the value to other units, such as pascals (Pa) or atmospheres (atm), conversion factors can be applied.
08

Reading and Interpreting Results

Barometric readings provide information about the pressure at the specific location where the measurement was taken. High atmospheric pressure usually indicates clear, sunny weather, while low pressure can indicate rain, storms, or other inclement weather. Changes in atmospheric pressure can signal shifts in weather patterns and help meteorologists predict future weather conditions.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Start your free trial

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

Regarding temperatures in kelvins: (a) Convert \(-100.5^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\) to kelvins. (b) What is wrong with someone telling you the temperature of something is \(-100.5 \mathrm{~K} ?\) (c) What is the coldest possible temperature in \({ }^{\circ} \mathrm{C} ?\)

Suppose the variable \(x\) is proportional to \(1 / y\). What does this tell you about how the numeric value of \(x\) changes as the numeric value of \(y\) changes?

State how the pressure of a gas at constant moles and volume depends on its temperature both with a mathematical relationship and an English statement. Also, make a graph that demonstrates the mathematical relationship.

What is the Celsius temperature of a gas if \(3.200\) moles of it occupy \(12.00 \mathrm{~L}\) at \(8.500 \mathrm{~atm} ?\)

On an atomic basis, and given that the average kinetic energy of motion of molecules in the gas phase is given by \(\mathrm{KE}=3 R T / 2\), explain why the pressure of a gas doubles when its temperature in Kelvin is doubled. (Hint: Pressure is due to collisions of molecules on the container walls and the force of those collisions.)
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Chemistry Textbooks

Ionic and Molecular Compounds

Read Explanation

Chemical Reactions

Read Explanation

Organic Chemistry

Read Explanation

The Earths Atmosphere

Read Explanation

Physical Chemistry

Read Explanation

Making Measurements

Read Explanation
View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free