A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

How is atmospheric pressure measured?

Best Answers

Let's look at how atmospheric pressure is measured. For a long time, atmospheric pressure has been measured by a mercury barometer. The first was invented in 1643 by one of Galileo's assistants. A mercurial barometer has a section of mercury exposed to the atmosphere. read more

Atmospheric pressure, sometimes also called barometric pressure, is the pressure within the atmosphere of Earth (or that of another planet). In most circumstances atmospheric pressure is closely approximated by the hydrostatic pressure caused by the weight of air above the measurement point. read more

Atmospheric pressure is the pressure above any area in the Earth's atmosphere caused by the weight of air. Standard atmospheric pressure (atm) is discussed in the relevant section. read more

Atmospheric pressure can be measured with a mercury barometer (hence the commonly used synonym barometric pressure), which indicates the height of a column of mercury that exactly balances the weight of the column of atmosphere over the barometer. read more

The pressure is then measured by taking the height of mercury, typically recorded in inches. Instead of using mercury, modern barometers find atmospheric pressure by employing electrical charges. Another type of barometer is called the aneroid barometer. read more

Encyclopedia Research

Image Answers

How to Make a Mercury Barometer
Source: stepbystep.com

Further Research

Measuring Atmospheric Pressure
www.windows2universe.org