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Chapter 6: Problem 1

How does air exert pressure? Describe the basic instrument used to measure air pressure. Compare the operation of two different types of instruments discussed.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Air pressure is the weight of air molecules pressing down on the Earth. A basic instrument used to measure air pressure is the barometer, including mercury and aneroid barometers. A mercury barometer measures air pressure by balancing the weight of the mercury in the tube against the atmospheric pressure, while an aneroid barometer uses an aneroid cell which expands or contracts with the change in air pressure.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding Air Pressure

Air pressure is created by the weight of air pushing down on the Earth, the ocean, and areas of Earth's atmosphere. The molecules that make up air are in constant motion and, as they move, they push against the surfaces they come into contact with, which is the force we feel as air pressure.
02

Description of Basic Instrument to Measure Air Pressure

One of the basic tools used to measure air pressure is a barometer. A simple barometer can be formed with a glass tube filled with a liquid like mercury which is then inverted into a container also containing mercury. The height of the mercury column in the tube adjusts until the weight of the mercury equals the weight of the same volume air in the atmosphere.
03

Comparison of Two Different Instruments

Mercury barometers and aneroid barometers are two of the most common tools for measuring air pressure. A Mercury barometer, as described earlier, employs liquid mercury to measure pressure. On the other hand, an aneroid barometer uses a small, flexible metal box called an aneroid cell. This cell expands or contracts when the air pressure changes; these movements are mechanically linked to a needle which moves over a graduated scale to reflect the changes in pressure.

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