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What Is Atmospheric Pressure

Atmospheric pressure is the pressure exerted by the weight of air in the atmosphere. It decreases with increasing altitude. Common units include pascals, centimeters/millimeters of mercury, atmospheres, and meters of water. Instruments like barometers are used to measure atmospheric pressure. When pressure changes, like with cooling air in a sealed can, dramatic effects can occur due to differences in external and internal pressures.

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385 views10 pages

What Is Atmospheric Pressure

Atmospheric pressure is the pressure exerted by the weight of air in the atmosphere. It decreases with increasing altitude. Common units include pascals, centimeters/millimeters of mercury, atmospheres, and meters of water. Instruments like barometers are used to measure atmospheric pressure. When pressure changes, like with cooling air in a sealed can, dramatic effects can occur due to differences in external and internal pressures.

Uploaded by

nidyashree
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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What is Atmospheric Pressure?

Atmospheric pressure is the pressure exerted on the surface of any objects by the atmospheric gas. It is caused by the weight of the atmospheric gas above the earth surface.

Unit of atmospheric pressure


The units of atmospheric pressure used in the SPM syllabus include: - Pascal (Pa) - centimetre/milimetre mercury (cmHg/mmHg) - atmosphere (atm) - metre water Notes: - Atmospheric Pressure at Sea Level = 1atm - 1 atm = 76cmHg

Atmospheric Pressure and Altitude

Atmospheric pressure decreases as the altitude increases.

Conversion of Pa and cmHg

h = height of mercury column = density of mercury g = gravitational field strength


Example
Given that the atmospheric pressure at Genting Highland is 72cmHg. Find the equivalent value of this pressure in the unit of Pascal (Pa). [density of mercury = 13600 kgm-3] Answer: h = 72cm = 0.72m = 13600 kgm-3 g = 10 ms-2 Pressure in the unit of Pascal, P = hg P = (0.72)(13600)(10) = 97920 Pa

Existence of Atmospheric Pressure

The cardboard does not fall and the water remains in the glass even though its not supported by anything. Explanation: The force caused by the atmospheric pressure acts on the surface of the cardboard is greater than the weight of the water in the glass.

Crushing Can

When a can filled with hot water is closed and is cooled down rapidly by pouring cold water on it, it will crash instantly. Explanation: When the air inside the can is cooled, its pressure decreases. The high atmospheric pressure outside exerts a great force on the can and causes it crashes.

Magdeburg Hemisphere

Figure above shows a Magdeburg Hemisphere. When the air inside the hemisphere is pumped out so that it becomes a vacuum, the hemisphere cannot be separated even by a very great force. Explanation: The atmospheric pressure exerts a strong force on the outer surface of the hemisphere, holding the hemisphere tightly together.

Instrument Used to Measure Atmospheric Pressure


-Simple Barometer -Fortin Barometer -Anaroid Barometer

Simple Barometer

Pa = 0cmHg Pb = 26cmHg Pe = 76cmHg Pf = 84 cmHg For a given liquid, the pressure will be the same at same level. Therefore, Pd = Pe = 76cmHg The difference of gas pressure at different level can be ignored if the difference of the height is not too large. Therefore, Pc = Pd = 76cmHg

Example

Figure above shows a simple barometer. Find the atmospheric pressure in the unit of a) cmHg b) Pa [Density of mercury = 13,600 kgm-3] Answer: a) The atmospheric pressure, P = 76cmHg b) The atmospheric pressure, P = hg P = (0.76)(13,600)(10) = 103,360 Pa

Example

Figure above shows a column of mercury in a glass tube. Some air is trapped in the glass tube. If the atmospheric pressure is 76cmHg, what is the pressure of the gas inside the tube? Answer: Patm = Pair + Pmercury (76) = Pair + 50 Pair= 76 - 50 = 26cmHg

More About Simple Barometer

The height, h will remains unchanged when i) the glass tube is lifted up from the dish ii) the glass tube is lowered further into the dish iii) the diameter of the glass tube increases iv) the glass tube is tilted v) the quantity of mercury in the dish is increased

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