Fundamental Concepts and Definitions

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measuring this pressure is called barometer. Italian scientist Torricelli was first to construct the barometer to measure the pressure. In his honour the pressure exerted by one millimeter column of mercury under atmospheric conditions is known as Torr (1 atm = 760 Torr). Absolute pressure of gas refers to the actual pressure of the gas. Let us consider a U-tube manometer as shown in Fig. 1.5. It shows the manometer with its one limb connected to bulb containing the gas while other limb is open to atmosphere. Fig. 1.5a describes a special case in which the pressure of the gas is more than the atmospheric pressure and it is the reason for the rise in level of mercury in the open limb. The difference in the pressure of fluid and atmosphere which is measurable by the rise of mercury column (= h.d.g. where h is the rise in mercury column, d is the density of mercury, g is the gravitational acceleration) is known as the Gauge pressure. Mathematically, it can be shown that, Absolute pressure = Atmospheric pressure + Gauge pressure Figure 1.5b shows another typical case in which the pressure of gas is less than the atmospheric pressure and that is why the mercury column is depressed in the open limb. The amount by which the pressure of gas is less than the atmospheric pressure is called Vacuum pressure. Thus, the vacuum pressure is the negative gauge pressure. Mathematically it can be shown by, Absolute pressure = Atmospheric pressure Vacuum pressure

Fig. 1.5 U-tube manometer

The bar chart shown in Fig. 1.6 further clarifies the interrelationship amongst the different pressures.

Fig. 1.6 Different pressures