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Why Not Use A Water Barometer

This document discusses why water can be used in a barometer instead of mercury. It explains that the height of a liquid column in a barometer is determined by the pressure pushing down on the surface of the liquid. It then shows through equations that for both mercury and water, the height of the liquid column is equal to the atmospheric pressure divided by the density of the liquid multiplied by gravity. Comparing the densities and standard height of mercury, it calculates that the equivalent height of a water column is 10.29 meters.

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ozgazzim97
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22 views1 page

Why Not Use A Water Barometer

This document discusses why water can be used in a barometer instead of mercury. It explains that the height of a liquid column in a barometer is determined by the pressure pushing down on the surface of the liquid. It then shows through equations that for both mercury and water, the height of the liquid column is equal to the atmospheric pressure divided by the density of the liquid multiplied by gravity. Comparing the densities and standard height of mercury, it calculates that the equivalent height of a water column is 10.29 meters.

Uploaded by

ozgazzim97
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Why

not use a water-based barometer?




The column of liquid in a barometer is supported by the pressure pushing down
on the surface of the liquid (and consequently up the column):

The mass of liquid in the column is simply the density () volume (V) and the
volume is the cross-sectional area (A) multiplied by the height (h).

The force due to gravity on the column is then m g = h A g

The pressure that the column exerts is simply the force divided by the area,
Pc = h g

As this is supported by the atmospheric pressure, Patm = Pc = h g.


So, the height of the column is simply h = Patm / g.


Now, if we use Hg, h(Hg) = Patm / (Hg) g

Likewise, when using water, h(water) = Patm / (water) g


As atmospheric pressure is the same for both manometers:

(Hg) h(Hg) g = (water) h(water) g

and h(water) = (Hg) h(Hg) / (water).

h(Hg) = 760 mm = 0.76 m; (Hg) = 13.534 gcm-3; (water) = 1.00 g cm-3

h(water) = 13.534 gcm-3 0.76 m / 1.00 g cm-3

Therefore standard atmospheric pressure could be expressed as:

10.29 m H2O !

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