what is atmospheric pressure and what causes it
2007-02-26 16:04:17 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Air is a fluid (liquids and gases are fluids) and is held together by earth's gravity. So, the column of air (extending nearly a hundred miles above the earth's surface) exerts a pressure just as a column of water or for that matter a block of wood or metal placed on your hand exerts pressure. At sea level, the atmospheric pressure is about 14 pounds per square inch. Then why don't we feel it?
The answer is simple and interesting because our internal pressure is also of the same magnitude (the pressure exerted by blood and the intercellular fluid keeps our body in shape. If we suddenly experience a high vacuum without the protection of a space suit, we will die due to the high internal pressure trying to be relieved all at once causing bleeding. We almost explode!
In other terms the atmospheric pressure is also expressed as 760mm of mercury and 32 feet of water.
2007-02-26 16:23:26 · answer #1 · answered by Swamy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
go to www.wikipedia.com or www.hakia.com search for atmospheric pressure and you will get the exact meaning you can also try wwww.dictionary.com
2007-02-27 00:13:14 · answer #2 · answered by shashank.wattal 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋