Torricelli

Barometer
Weight of
mercury

The mercury in the tube

pushes down with its weight.
The bottom of the tube is
open to the atmosphere.
The air pushes on the open
surface of the mercury.
On an average day, the
pressure of the air equals
the pressure exerted by a
column of mercury 760 mm
high.
Above 760 mm, there is a
vacuum in the tube.

Barometer Detail
Why doesnt the diameter of the
column of Hg make a difference?
Recall that Pressure = force/area.
The force is the weight of the
mercury, but the pressure that
results is that weight divided by the
area of the column. So a bigger
column weighs more but also has a
proportionally bigger area, and the
two factors cancel one another out.
The pressure caused by the column of
mercury pressing down is
independent of the diameter of the
column.

Manome
ter

PHg

A manometer is
comprised of a bulb
containing a gas and a
U-shaped tube.
The U-shaped tube is
partially filled with
mercury. The weight of
the mercury puts
pressure on the gas.
If the U-tube is OPEN
there is also air
pressure acting on the
gas.
The gas molecules put
pressure on the
mercury.

Closed Manometers
vacuum
PHg

There is a balance
between the weight of
the mercury on the left
(PHg) and the pressure
of the gas on the right
(Pgas).
The difference between
the heights of the
mercury on each side
of the tube is a
measure of the
pressure of the gas.

Pgas = h

Open Manometers
Pair

PHg

When gas pressure is

greater than atmospheric
pressure, the mercury is
pushed toward the open
end.
The balance is between the
gas on the right, and the air
plus mercury on the left.
Pair + PHg = Pgas
The weight of the mercury
is measured as the height
difference:
PHg = h
So

Pgas = Pair + h

Open Manometers

Pair

PHg

When gas pressure is less

than atmospheric pressure,
the mercury is pushed
toward the gas reservoir.
The balance is between the
air on the left and the gas
plus mercury on the right:
Pair = Pgas + PHg
The weight of the mercury
is measured as the height
difference:
PHg = h
So
Pair = Pgas + h
Or

Pgas = Pair- h

Sample
Problems
1.

Pair = 790 mm

h =
20 mm

2.

h = 13 mm

PAIR = 753 mm

3.

PAIR = 765 mm

h = 27
mm

Find the pressure of the gas in each manometer.

Pay attention to whether the manometer is open or closed!

Sample Problem Answers

1. Pgas+ h = Pair
Pgas= 790 mm - 20 mm = 770 mm Hg
2. Pgas = vacuum + 13 mm = 13 mm
Hg
3. Pgas = Pair + h
Pgas = 765 + 27 = 792 mm Hg