Why was mercury used in early barometers instead of another liquid?
2007-10-30 09:22:13 · 5 answers · asked by liltchaser 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
If they used water, the column height would have to be about 32 feet (instead of 3.2 feet). It's kinda hard to read the marks on a tube when it's about 25 feet up in the air. I certainly don't want to climb a ladder everytime I want to know the pressure of something.
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2007-10-30 09:26:13 · answer #1 · answered by tlbs101 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
True, its density makes the column a convenient height. But it's also relatively inert, so it doesn't react much with its environment. And it doesn't appreciably evaporate at room temperature.
2007-10-30 12:57:03 · answer #2 · answered by Frank N 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it has to do with the density of the liquid
30 inches for mercury vs 30 feet for water,
that is the simple answer...
2007-10-30 09:28:41 · answer #3 · answered by iam2inthis 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
because it was the most comon metal that was a liquid at room temp. and it was avalible
2007-10-30 09:27:04 · answer #4 · answered by wildperonss123456789 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
the answer is in their respective densities.
2007-10-30 09:29:35 · answer #5 · answered by Edward 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋