Question

How many centimeters can air pressure at sea level push a column of mercury up a tube?

1000 cm
30 cm
76 cm
360 cm

Answer 1

Since the atmospheric pressure at sea level is 760 millimeters of mercury, the dish of mercury would have to large enough to have enough mercury to allow the mercury to rise 760 millimeters up the tube (or 76cm)

Answer 2

Answer: At sea level and at a temperature of 0° Celsius (C), the height of the mercury column is approximately 30 inches, or 76 centimeters. This represents a pressure of approximately 14.7 psia. The 30-inch column is used as a reference standard. Atmospheric pressure does not vary uniformly with altitude.