volume_mute
Weather report interpretation
publish date: 2026/05/19 19:27:57.448737 UTC
volume_mute
A weather report on TV says, 'The pressure today is 29.8 inches.' Is this statement technically correct? Explain why or why not.
Correct Answer
Technically no, because it should say the pressure is equal to the pressure exerted by 29.8 inches of mercury
Explanation
Strictly speaking, we should not say the pressure 'is' 29.8 inches, because inches measure length, not pressure. The correct phrasing is that the atmospheric pressure is equal to the pressure exerted at the bottom of a column of mercury 29.8 inches high. However, weather reports use this shorthand for convenience.
Reference
Basic Physics: A Self-Teaching Guide