Final answer:
Normal blood pressure readings of 120 over 80 mm Hg convert to 1.60 × 10⁴ N/m² for systolic and 1.07 × 10⁴ N/m² for diastolic pressure. Blood pressure in infants is typically lower than in adults because the height to which blood must be pumped is smaller.
Step-by-step explanation:
To convert normal blood pressure readings of 120 over 80 mm Hg to newtons per meter squared:
- The systolic pressure (P120) can be calculated using the density of mercury and the given height in mm Hg. For 120 mm Hg, it would be 120 mm Hg × 133 Pa/mm Hg = 1.60 × 10⁴ N/m².
- The diastolic pressure (P80) follows the same process. For 80 mm Hg, it would be 80 mm Hg × 133 Pa/mm Hg = 1.07 × 10⁴ N/m².
Blood pressures for an infant could be smaller than those for an adult due to the smaller height to which blood must be pumped in an infant's body. Since an infant is significantly shorter than an adult, the hydrostatic pressure due to the weight of the blood column is less, resulting in lower blood pressure readings.