Question
What is a barometer? How is a simple barometer constructed?
✓
Answer
A barometer is an instrument which is used to measure the atmospheric pressure.
Construction of a simple barometer:
A simple mercury barometer can be made with a clear, dry, thick-walled glass tube about 1 metre ling. The glass tube is sealed at one end and is filled with mercury completely. While filling the tube with mercury care has to be taken so that there are no air bubbles present in the mercury column. Close the open end with thumb and turn the tube upside down carefully over a trough containing mercury. Dip the open end under the mercury level in the trough and remove the thumb.
The mercury level in the tube falls until it is about 76 cm (h =760 mm) vertically above the mercury level. It is the atmospheric pressure acting on the surface of the mercury in the trough that supports the vertical mercury column. The empty space above the mercury column is called the ‘Torricellian vacuum’.
Construction of a simple barometer:
A simple mercury barometer can be made with a clear, dry, thick-walled glass tube about 1 metre ling. The glass tube is sealed at one end and is filled with mercury completely. While filling the tube with mercury care has to be taken so that there are no air bubbles present in the mercury column. Close the open end with thumb and turn the tube upside down carefully over a trough containing mercury. Dip the open end under the mercury level in the trough and remove the thumb.
The mercury level in the tube falls until it is about 76 cm (h =760 mm) vertically above the mercury level. It is the atmospheric pressure acting on the surface of the mercury in the trough that supports the vertical mercury column. The empty space above the mercury column is called the ‘Torricellian vacuum’.
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