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When air pressure decreases, the mercury in a barometer _____.

goes down
goes up
stays the same

2 Answers

5 votes

When air pressure decreases, the mercury in a barometer goes down.

User Merkalov Anton
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6.2k points
3 votes
It goes down.

The level of mercury stops at 7.6 cm because that's where the both pressure come in equillibrium, so if atmospheric pressure decreased, less air particles will force the mercury in the container, and thus the mercury will slide down into the container from the barometer.
User Ryan Turnbull
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6.3k points