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Mass, Weight, Density and Pressure
Quick questions on Gas pressure and the mercury barometer explained: O-Level Physics
5short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is the manometer?Show answer
A manometer is a U-shaped tube partly filled with liquid (often mercury or water). One arm connects to the gas supply; the other is open to the atmosphere.
What is the mercury barometer?Show answer
A mercury barometer measures atmospheric pressure. A long tube is filled with mercury and inverted into a dish of mercury. The mercury falls until the column's pressure balances the atmospheric pressure pushing down on the dish, leaving a vacuum at the top. The vertical height of the mercury column then measures atmospheric pressure:
What is q1?Show answer
Explain, in terms of particles, how a gas exerts pressure on its container. [2 marks]
What is q2?Show answer
A mercury column of height (, ) balances the atmosphere. Find the atmospheric pressure. [2 marks]
What is q3?Show answer
State why mercury, not water, is used in a barometer. [2 marks]
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