Final answer:
To convert a 3.5" water column to psig, multiply by the conversion factor of 0.0361 psi/inch WC, resulting in 0.12635 psig, assuming standard atmospheric pressure.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject matter here involves converting pressure units, which is a Physics problem at the High School level. To convert a 3.5" water column into psig (pounds per square inch gauge), it's important to use the appropriate conversion factor. One inch of water column ("WC) is equivalent to 0.0361 psi. Therefore, the conversion for 3.5" WC to psi is as follows:
3.5" WC x 0.0361 psi/inch WC = 0.12635 psi
However, to get the psig value, it's essential to consider the local atmospheric pressure because psig measures pressure relative to atmospheric pressure. Since we are not provided with specific details regarding local atmospheric pressure, we will assume standard atmospheric pressure to illustrate the conversion.
At standard atmospheric pressure, 0 psi absolute is equivalent to approximately 14.7 psig (pounds per square inch absolute), which equals 0 psig. Thus, if the local atmospheric pressure is standard, the value of the 3.5" water column in psig would be simply 0.12635 psig, as no further adjustments are required to the calculation.