Determination of the atmospheric pressure

Principle

In the first experiment a water column is held by atmospheric pressure alone. The pressure of the water column is calculated with the formula for the hydrostatic pressure.

In the second experiment the atmospheric pressure is determined using a vacuum. The pressure needed to maintain the vacuum corresponds to the atmospheric pressure.

By comparing the hydrostatic pressure of the water column from the first experiment with the atmospheric pressure from the second experiment the difference in size becomes clear and therefore also quantitatively displayed why the first experiment works.

Benefits

• Simple and clear setup
• Achievement of an elemental learning objective with little effort