how would you measure the height of a skyscraper using a barometer?

Question

think outside the box.

Answer 1

Best special effects: Drop the barometer off the top of the building and see how long it takes to hit the ground. Using the standard acceleration for gravity formula, compute how tall the building is (and for free, how fast it was going when it hit the ground).

Most precise: Tell the owner that you will sell him this great barometer if he tells you how tall the building is.

LEAST accurate: Measure the barometric pressure at the top of the building and at the bottom of the building and use the standard weather equation for measuring density/altitude to determine the difference in height. Hope that a storm hasn't come through while you were walking up the stairs...

Here's one *NOT* on the Neils Bohr list:

Most (older) barometers use mercury as the agent which the air pressure is suposed to push around. Break the barometer, drop the mercury over the side and then time how long it takes for the EPA inspector to start complaining that the fish are dying...

Answer 2

this might be weird but hey it's still an answer. i've about this. did you know that Niels Bohr was asked the same question? this was his answer: take the barometer and go to the top of the building. tie a rope on the barometer and drop it from the top. after this, pull the barometer back up again and measure the length of the rope. that will tell you how tall the skyscraper is.

Answer 3

I would go downstairs, find the superintendent of the building, and say "I have a fine barometer, and I will give it to you if you tell me how tall this skyscraper is."

Also, you could use the barometer to determine if it is sunny or rainy. If it is sunny, then walk to the property inspector's office and request the specifications for the building (it is a public document.) If it is rainy, then take a cab, or access the records online.

If you HAD to do some math, you could measure the length of the skyscraper's shadow, measure the length of the barometer's shadow, and express it as a ratio.

Answer 4

That is how a sensitive altimeter works, static pressure is measured and translated into height in feet but it is accurate only if the altimeter setting is precise. Elana has a better method, drop the barometer and precisely time it's fall and the calculate the height of the building, this is a more precise method.

Answer 5

The same way an altimeter works to measure the altitude of an aircraft - rho g h - where rho is the density of air at standard conditions, g is the accelleration of gravity and h is the height of the building - take two readings, one at the base of the building and one at the top - the difference in pressure correlates to a difference in altitude. there are a few uncertainties involved in a precise measurement - humidity is typically neglected in tables for density of air ('dry air'), and most barometers are not capable of measuring to much precision (e.g. mercury u-tubes aren't very readable to much precision).

Answer 6

The Barometric Formula of Babinet can be used to calculate the relationship between altitude, temperature and atmospheric pressure. It is shown below:

Z = C x ( Bo - B ) / ( Bo + B )
C = 52494 x ( 1 + To + T - 64 ) / 900

Z = The difference in altitude in feet.
Bo and B = Barometric pressures in inches of mercury at two altitudes.
To and T = Farenheit temperatures at the two altitudes.

The equation can be simplified if you assume that the temperatures at the two altitudes are the same. Then, if both altitudes are within a few thousand feet above sea level, the equation can be simplified further to:

Z = 952 ( Bo - B )

Answer 7

Stand on top with the barometer and get the pressure reading. Since air pressure varies with height, you can extrapolate the height you must be at to read that certain measurement.

Answer 8

read the barometer at first floor above ground level,conunt the number of floors ,read barometer at last floor. divide pressure at last foor it should agree with number of floors. Assume height of first floor and multifply pressure per floor and hight per floor.

Answer 9

Change in pressure = rho g h.

So take a reading at the ground floor.
Take a reading at the top floor.

h = deltaP / rho g

You know g. Look up the density of air.

This works better to measure your depth under water because water is denser. I don't know how accurate this will be to measure a skyscraper because a lot of things can monkey with your pressure (like wind and temperature gradients).

Answer 10

i dont know but you could go on a web site and go on google and type height of skyscraper and you will find your answer.