Barometer Shape

CCA! Volume 6

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Barometer Shape

Changing the shape or volume of the barometer does not change the level of the mercury.


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Movie Size - .8 MB
Movie Duration - 27 Seconds
File - CCA6/MOVIES/ChemDemosCCA/BAROM3.MOV

The demonstration on this page requires the use of a large volume of mercury. It is not intended to represent an exercise for chemistry laboratory students. Do not attempt to duplicate this demonstration without taking appropriate safety precautions.

Narrative

Because the height of the mercury is dependent on the atmospheric pressure, changing the shape or volume of the barometer does not change the level of the mercury. Three differently shaped barometers are all filled with mercury by creating a vacuum at the top of the tube. Even though they have very different shapes, the mercury level is the same in all three.