Why the aneroid barometer is popular (Identify Words)
publish date: 2026/05/19 19:27:59.476995 UTC
Read the following passage and identify the TWO words that describe why aneroid barometers are preferred over mercury barometers for many applications: 'Compact barometers have an airtight container with a flexible end. As atmospheric pressure increases, this flexible end is pushed inward and a lever connected to it moves a pointer on a dial on the face of the barometer. Because of the common use of the mercury barometer, such dials are normally calibrated in inches or centimeters of mercury even though they contain no mercury.'
Correct Answer
Explanation
The passage indicates two key features of aneroid barometers: they are 'compact' (small and portable, unlike the tall mercury barometer) and they use a 'flexible' end (aneroid cell) that moves with pressure changes, eliminating the need for a tall glass tube filled with liquid mercury.
Reference
Basic Physics: A Self-Teaching Guide