molecules.
N
2
CO
2
O
2
A
r
2
Air molecules
are everywhere.
kg
1atm (atmosphere) =
14.7/in2
(per square inch)
1013.25mb
(millibars)
29.92in of Hg
(inches of mercury)
Air
pressure
is equal in
all
directions.
So why
arent we
crushed by
atmospher
ic
pressure?
10
Its always
been around us
- were
accustomed to
it.
Although we
can detect
sudden
changes in it, if
the pressure
increased or
11
As
elevation
goes up
Barometric
pressure
goes
down.
This is an
inverse
relationship.
12
13
Air Pressure
can be affected by
Warm air
rises;
pressure
drops
Low
Pressure
system
temperature.
Cold air
sinks;
pressure
increase
s
High
Pressure
system
15
Torricellis tube
Evangelista
Torricelli
invented the
16
Torricellis
barometer used
a glass column
suspended in a
bowl of
mercury.
17
The pressure of
the air
molecules
pushed the
mercury up into
the glass tube.
18
As
atmospheri
c pressure
increases
the mercury
in the tube
rises .
19
He concluded
that the weight
of the mercury
in the tube was
equal to the
weight of the
air pressing
down on the
mercury in the
dish.
20
21
Glass tube is
fragile
Highly accurate
Mercury is very
toxic!
22
The
Aneroid
No fragile tubes!
Barometer
No toxic
chemicals!
No batteries!
Never needs
winding!
23
HOW
IT
WORKS
24
L
IL
M
S
R
A
IB
An aneroid
barometer uses a
cell which has had
most of the air
removed.
As
the air pressure
around the cell
increases, it
presses on the cell
which causes the
needle to move.
is the actual
pressure at the
recording
location. It is
affected by the
Sea level pressure
local altitude.
is referenced to sea
level, so it has the
same altitude
anywhere in the
29
world.
Most aneroid
barometers
have a set
needle that
can be
adjusted to
remember the
Why
would
previous
this
be
reading.
important?
30
Changing Pressure
A rising barometer