Manometer Pressure

Manometers measure a pressure difference by balancing the weight of a fluid column between the
two pressures of interest. Large pressure differences are measured with heavy fluids, such as
mercury (e.g. 760 mm Hg = 1 atmosphere). Small pressure differences, such as those experienced
in experimental wind tunnels or venturi flowmeters, are measured by lighter fluids such as water
(27.7 inch H2O = 1 psi; 1 cm H2O = 98.1 Pa).

How it Works

One end of the tube is connected with a gas-tight seal to a test pressure source. The other end of
the tube is left open to the atmosphere and will therefore be subjected to a pressure of
approximately 1 atmosphere (atm). If the test pressure is greater than the reference pressure of 1
atm, the liquid in the test column is forced down the column. This causes the fluid in the reference
column to rise by an equal amount.

Calculating the Pressure

The pressure exerted by a column of fluid can be given by the equation P = hgd. In this equation, P
is the calculated pressure, h is the height of the fluid, g is the force of gravity and d is the density
of the liquid. Because the manometer is measuring a pressure differential rather than an absolute
pressure, we use the substitution P = Pa – P0. In this substitution, Pa is the test pressure and P0 is
the reference pressure.

101,325 pascals equalling 1 atm of pressure. The pressure differential in the manometer is
therefore Pa – P0 = 2,653 / 101,325 = 0.026 atm. So, the pressure in the test column (Pa) is equal
to P0 + 0.026 atm = 1 + 0.026 atm = 1.026 atm

Vertical U-Tube Manometer

The pressure difference measured by a vertical U-Tube manometer can be calculated as

p=γh

=ρgh (1)

where

p= pressure (Pa, N/m2, lb/ft2)

γ = ρ g = specific weight of liquid in the tube (kN/m3, lb/ft3 )

ρ = U-tube liquid density (kg/m3, lb/ft3)

g = acceleration of gravity (9.81 m/s2, 32.174 ft/s2)

h = liquid height (m fluid column, ft fluid column)

The specific weight of water, which is the most commonly used fluid in u-tube manometers, is
9.81 kN/m3 or 62.4 lb/ft3.

Manometer tube – problems and solutions

1. A manometer tube is filled with two type of liquids. The density of liquid 1 is ρ1 =
0.8 g.cm-3, and the density of liquid 2 is ρ2 = 1 g.cm-3, and height h1 = 10 cm, then
what is the height of h2.

Known :

Density of liquid 1 = 0.8 g.cm-3

Density of liquid 2 = 1 g.cm-3

Height 1 = 10 cm

Wanted: Height 2
Solution :

2. The height of the water is 50 cm, and the height of another liquid is 30 cm. What
is the density of another liquid?

Known :

Acceleration due to gravity (g) = 10 m/s2

The height of water (h1) = 50 cm

Density of water (ρ1) = 1.00 x 103 kg/m3 = 1000 kg/m3

Height of another liquid (h2) = 30 cm

Wanted : The density of another liquid.

Solution :

pa + ρ1 g h1 = pa + ρ2 g h2
For Youtube   

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Resources:

https://sciencing.com/manometer-2718.html
https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/u-tube-manometer-d_611.html
https://physics.gurumuda.net/manometer-tube-problems-and-solutions.htm