2. Suppose the earth's atmosphere contained twice the number of molecules it does today. Would atmospheric pressure be greater than, equal to, or less than it is now?

Question

3. Two students make two different barometers. Although they are placed side by side so that they are both exposed to exactly the same atmospheric pressure, the column of liquid in the first student's barometer is significantly lower than the column of water in the second student barometer. Assuming both students made their barometers correctly, what explains the difference?
4. The average sea-level value for atmospheric pressure is 14,7 pounds per square inch, which same as 20.0 inches of mercury. If the atmospheric pressure is 0.85 atms, which of the follo values would correspond to atmospheric pressure as reported in a weather report?
31.1 inches of mercury, 29.9 inches of mercury, 25.4 inches of mercury

(In the shortswords possible)

Answer 1

2. Greater than. If the number of molecules in the atmosphere doubles, the atmospheric pressure would increase because pressure is directly proportional to the number of gas molecules at a constant temperature and volume.

3. The difference in the barometer readings could be explained by the use of different liquids in the barometers. Water is much less dense than mercury, so a column of water would need to be significantly taller to exert the same pressure as a shorter column of mercury.

4. 29.9 inches of mercury. 0.85 atm corresponds to approximately 25.4 inches of mercury, so 29.9 inches of mercury (which is close to 1 atm) would not be accurate for 0.85 atm. 31.1 inches of mercury is too high for 0.85 atm. Thus, the closest answer is 25.4 inches of mercury.