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Sorting the steps of barometer operation
publish date: 2026/05/19 19:27:57.179539 UTC
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Arrange the following events in the correct order to explain how a mercury barometer works. Place the first event at the top, the last event at the bottom.
Mercury column falls, leaving a vacuum at the top
Atmospheric pressure pushes down on the mercury pool
A long tube is filled with mercury and inverted in a pool of mercury
The pressure of the mercury column's weight balances atmospheric pressure
Mercury rises to a height of about 30 inches
Correct Answer
(1) A long tube is filled with mercury and inverted in a pool of mercury
(2) Mercury column falls, leaving a vacuum at the top
(3) Atmospheric pressure pushes down on the mercury pool
(4) Mercury rises to a height of about 30 inches
(5) The pressure of the mercury column's weight balances atmospheric pressure
Explanation
First, the tube is filled and inverted. Mercury falls, creating a vacuum. Atmospheric pressure then pushes on the pool, forcing mercury up the tube until the column reaches about 30 inches, at which point the weight of the mercury column balances the atmospheric pressure.
Reference
Basic Physics: A Self-Teaching Guide