How can a barometer be used to measure altitude as well as atmospheric pressure?

Because atmospheric pressure changes with distance above or below sea level, a barometer can also be used to measure altitude. There are two main types of barometers: mercury and aneroid. In the mercury barometer, atmospheric pressure balances a column of mercury, the height of which can be precisely measured.

How does an aneroid barometer measure atmospheric pressure?

Inside an aneroid barometer is a small capsule. This capsule has had the air pumped out of it. When the air pressure rises, the sides of the capsule are compressed. A dial behind the needle tells you the air pressure and altitude or weather forecast.

What units does an aneroid barometer used to measure air pressure?

A barometer measures atmospheric pressure in units of measurement called atmospheres or bars. An atmosphere (atm) is a unit of measurement equal to the average air pressure at sea level at a temperature of 15 degrees Celsius (59 degrees Fahrenheit).

What are the advantages of using an aneroid barometer?

what are the advantages of aneroid barometer over a simple barometer?

• Aneroid barometer does not need a mercury column, so it is compact. It is easier to handle.
• It is easier to read, as the measurements are calibrate minutely.
• It is highly sensitive and can be used to record small changes in pressure.

How does a barometer measure altitude?

Measuring a Building’s Height With a Barometer

1. Measure the height of the barometer and then stand it next to the building when the sun is about 45 degrees in the sky.
2. Drop the barometer off the top of the building, measure how long it takes to hit the ground, and use this value to calculate the height of the building.

What is a barometer used to measure?

A barometer is a scientific instrument used to measure atmospheric pressure, also called barometric pressure. The atmosphere is the layers of air wrapped around the Earth. That air has a weight and presses against everything it touches as gravity pulls it to Earth. Barometers measure this pressure.

How does an aneroid barometer work?

Artwork: An aneroid barometer is built around a sealed box (blue, sometimes called an aneroid cell) that expands or contracts with increasing pressure. As it moves, it pulls or pushes a spring (red) and a system of levers (orange), moving a pointer (black) up or down the dial (yellow).

What happens to air pressure as altitude increases?

As altitude rises, air pressure drops. In other words, if the indicated altitude is high, the air pressure is low. This happens for two reasons. As altitude increases, the amount of gas molecules in the air decreases—the air becomes less dense than air nearer to sea level.

What is the basic principle of aneroid barometer?

A metal box partially exhausted of air (vaccum) will undergo changes of shape as the outside pressure varies. These small movements of the box are transmitted to a pointer displayed on the face of the aneroid barometer by a system of levers.

What are the advantages of barometer?

The advantages of use of mercury in a barometer are :

• its density is very high.
• it has low vapour pressure.
• its rate of evaporation is not very high.
• it neither wets nor sticks to glass.
• its surface is shining and opaque.

Why is an aneroid barometer handier than a mercury barometer?

It is widely used as an alternative barometer for liquid barometers. This is because aneroid barometer is a solid device which is easy to handle and transport. The value of the atmospheric pressure is easy to read.