3.

8 Engineering Physics

If the Pirani gauge is kept at the vessel having low pressure, due to the change in the
temperature of the gas, the temperature of the filament F (platinum wire) changes. Due
to the change of the temperature of the filament, there is a change of its resistance.
The change in resistance leads to an unabalance in the bridge circuit. The deflection
shown in the galvanometer is a measure of the pressure of the vessel. The bridge is
balanced by varying the potential across A and C with the help of the rheostat. The
galvanometer scale divisions are used to measure the pressure directly by calibrating
the galvanometer in terms of pressure using a McLeod gauge.

Ba

Rh

B
R1 R2
A G C
R3
D
V

Glass bead
Filament
Glass rod
PG
Glass bulb, B

Gas from exhausted

vessel
Fig. 3.6 Pirani guage

Uses and Drawbacks of the Gauge This gauge is used to measure the
pressure between 10–2 to 10–4 mm of Hg. This gauge is very useful to measure the
pressure fluctuations, since the change of resistance of the filament with pressure is
instantaneous.
The drawbacks of this gauge are listed as follows:
(i) It is not suitable for use with organic vapours, since they position the filament.
(ii) It is more sensitive to mechanical shocks, accidental vibration, care should
be taken while using this instrument.
(iii) It is calibrated using a McLeod gauge, this is not an absolute gauge.
(iv) Pressures below 10–4 mm of Hg cannot be measured using this gauge
and
(v) At pressures below 10–3 mm of Hg, the heat loss due to radiation is higher
than conduction. Therefore, the accuracy of this gauge gets affected below
10–3 mm of Hg.