Final answer:
One psig is equivalent to 27.6805 inches of water column, based on the standard atmospheric pressure capable of supporting a column of water approximately 33.8 feet high at sea level.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine how many inches of water column equal one psig (pound-force per square inch gauge), we need to understand the relationship between pressure and height of a water column. Standard atmospheric pressure at sea level is 14.7 psi, which is equivalent to 101,325 Pa. It's also known that at sea level, atmospheric pressure can support a water column of approximately 10.3 m or about 33.8 feet. Since 1 inch equals 2.54 centimeters, this translates to about 406.4 inches of water column. To convert psi to inches of water column, we can use the fact that 1 psi equals 27.6805 inches of water column at 4 degrees Celsius (39.2 degrees Fahrenheit). Therefore, one psig pressure is equivalent to 27.6805 inches of water column.
We can summarize the conversion as follows:
- 1 psi = 27.6805 inches water column
- 1 psig = 27.6805 inches water column
Understanding the concept of hydrostatic pressure and how it correlates with the pressure exerted by the water column due to gravity is essential to grasp this concept fully.