The air is made up of

molecules.
N
2

CO
2

O
2

A
r
2

Air molecules
are everywhere.

Although invisible, air molecules have

mass and take up space
(like all matter).

kg

Gravity pulls the air molecules toward

the earth thus giving them weight.

The weight of the air molecules

pressing down on us is called
atmospheric pressure or air
pressure.

The force of air

pressure at sea
level is equal to
14.7 pounds per
square inch.
One unit of air
pressure is called
an atmosphere.
7

1atm (atmosphere) =
14.7/in2
(per square inch)

1013.25mb
(millibars)

29.92in of Hg
(inches of mercury)

Air
pressure
is equal in
all
directions.

So why
arent we
crushed by
atmospher
ic
pressure?

10

Its always
been around us
- were
accustomed to
it.
Although we
can detect
sudden
changes in it, if
the pressure
increased or
11

As
elevation
goes up

Barometric
pressure
goes
down.

This is an
inverse
relationship.

12

13

Air Pressure
can be affected by
Warm air
rises;
pressure
drops
Low
Pressure
system

temperature.

Cold air
sinks;
pressure
increase
s
High
Pressure
system

15

Torricellis tube

Evangelista
Torricelli
invented the

16

Torricellis
barometer used
a glass column
suspended in a
bowl of
mercury.

17

The pressure of
the air
molecules
pushed the
mercury up into
the glass tube.

18

As
atmospheri
c pressure
increases
the mercury
in the tube
rises .

19

He concluded
that the weight
of the mercury
in the tube was
equal to the
weight of the
air pressing
down on the
mercury in the
dish.
20

Standard atmospheric pressure:

1 atm =
760mmHg
or
1 atm =1013.25
mb

21

The Mercury Barometer

Simple to
construct

Glass tube is
fragile

Highly accurate

Mercury is very
toxic!

Is there a better way to

measure air pressure?

22

The
Aneroid
No fragile tubes!
Barometer
No toxic
chemicals!
No batteries!
Never needs
winding!
23

HOW
IT
WORKS
24

Inside the barometer is

a cylinder that contains
a partial vacuum. As
pressure outside of it
changes, the cylinder
expands or contracts
causing the springs to
move which, in turn
makes the dial move.
25

L
IL
M

S
R
A
IB

An aneroid
barometer uses a
cell which has had
most of the air
removed.
As
the air pressure
around the cell
increases, it
presses on the cell
which causes the
needle to move.

Television weather forecasters usually

give barometric pressure in inches of
mercury. However, meteorologists
measure atmospheric pressure in
26

Since pressure changes with

altitude
how do scientists account for
the differences in the readings
that are reported from one place
to another?

 there are two types of

barometric pressure
measurements: Station pressure

is the actual
pressure at the
recording
location. It is
affected by the
Sea level pressure
local altitude.
is referenced to sea
level, so it has the
same altitude
anywhere in the
29
world.

Most aneroid
barometers
have a set
needle that
can be
adjusted to
remember the
Why
would
previous
this
be
reading.
important?
30

Changing Pressure
A rising barometer

increasing air pressure.

A falling barometer

decreasing air pressure

31