If mercury (density = 13.6 g/cm³)at a height of 745 mm Hg in a mercury barometer is replaced with water (density = 1.00 g/cm³),under the same conditions the height of water will be A)0.180 ft. B)2.44 ft. C)33.2 ft. D)399 ft.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The height of a liquid column in a barometer is inversely proportional to the density of the liquid. Since mercury is 13.6 times denser than water, the height of the water column will be 13.6 times taller than that of mercury to exert the same pressure. Therefore, $745 \, \text{mm Hg} \times 13.6 = 10132 \, \text{mm H}_2\text{O} = 10.132 \, \text{m H}_2\text{O}$, which is approximately 33.2 feet, considering $1 \, \text{m} = 3.28084 \, \text{ft}$.

If Mercury (Density = 13