Question
Evangelista Torricelli was the first person to realize that we live at the bottom of an ocean of air. He correctly surmisedthat the pressure of our atmosphere is attributable to the weight of the air. The density of air at $0^{\circ} \mathrm{C}$ at the Earth's surface is $1.29 \mathrm{kg} / \mathrm{m}^{3} .$ The density decreases with increasing altitude (as the atmosphere thins). On the other hand, if we assume the density is constant at $1.29 \mathrm{kg} / \mathrm{m}^{3}$ up to some altitude $h$ and is zero above that altitude, then $h$ would represent the depth of the ocean of air. (a) Use this model to determine the value of $h$ that gives a pressure of 1.00 atm at the surface of the Earth. (b) Would the peak of Mount Everest rise above the surface of such an atmosphere?
Step 1
Step 1: We know that the pressure at a depth in a fluid is given by the equation $P = \rho g h$, where $\rho$ is the density of the fluid, $g$ is the acceleration due to gravity, and $h$ is the depth in the fluid. Show more…
Show all steps
Your feedback will help us improve your experience
Surjit Tewari and 101 other Physics 101 Mechanics educators are ready to help you.
Ask a new question
Labs
Want to see this concept in action?
Explore this concept interactively to see how it behaves as you change inputs.
Key Concepts
Recommended Videos
Evangelista Torricelli was the first person to realize that we live at the bottom of an ocean of air. He correctly surmised that the pressure of our atmosphere is attributable to the weight of the air. The density of air at $0^{\circ} \mathrm{C}$ at the Earth's surface is 1.29 $\mathrm{kg} / \mathrm{m}^{3}$ . The density decreases with increasing altitude (as the atmosphere thins). On the other hand, if we assume the density is constant at 1.29 $\mathrm{kg} / \mathrm{m}^{3}$ up to some altitude $h$ and is zero above that altitude, then $h$ would represent the depth of the ocean of air. (a) Use this model to determine the value of $h$ that gives a pressure of 1.00 atm at the surface of the Earth. (b) Would the peak of Mount Everest rise above the surface of such an atmosphere?
Evangelista Torricelli was the first person to realize that we live at the bottom of an ocean of air. He correctly surmised that the pressure of our atmosphere is attributable to the weight of the air. The density of air at $0^{\circ} \mathrm{C}$ at the Earth's surface is $1.29 \mathrm{~kg} / \mathrm{m}^{3} .$ The density decreases with increasing altitude (as the atmosphere thins). On the other hand, if we assume the density is constant at $1.29 \mathrm{~kg} / \mathrm{m}^{3}$ up to some altitude $h$ and is zero above that altitude, then $h$ would represent the depth of the ocean of air. (a) Use this model to determine the value of $h$ that gives a pressure of 1.00 atm at the surface of the Earth. (b) Would the peak of Mount Everest rise above the surface of such an atmosphere?
Evangelista Torricelli was the first person to realize that we live at the bottom of an ocean of air. He correctly surmised that the pressure of our atmosphere is attributable to the weight of the air. The density of air at $0^{\circ} \mathrm{C}$ at the Earth's surface is $1.29 \mathrm{kg} / \mathrm{m}^{3} .$ The density decreases with increasing altitude (as the atmosphere thins). On the other hand, if we assume the density is constant at 1.29 $\mathrm{kg} / \mathrm{m}^{3}$ up to some altitude $h$ and is zero above that altitude, then $h$ would represent the depth of the ocean of air. Use this model to determine the value of $h$ that gives a pressure of 1.00 atm at the surface of the Earth. Would the peak of Mount Everest rise above the surface of such an atmosphere?
Transcript
18,000,000+
Students on Numerade
Trusted by students at 8,000+ universities
Watch the video solution with this free unlock.
EMAIL
PASSWORD