# 9.1 Gas pressure

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By the end of this section, you will be able to:
• Define the property of pressure
• Define and convert among the units of pressure measurements
• Describe the operation of common tools for measuring gas pressure
• Calculate pressure from manometer data

The earth’s atmosphere exerts a pressure, as does any other gas. Although we do not normally notice atmospheric pressure, we are sensitive to pressure changes—for example, when your ears “pop” during take-off and landing while flying, or when you dive underwater. Gas pressure is caused by the force exerted by gas molecules colliding with the surfaces of objects ( [link] ). Although the force of each collision is very small, any surface of appreciable area experiences a large number of collisions in a short time, which can result in a high pressure. In fact, normal air pressure is strong enough to crush a metal container when not balanced by equal pressure from inside the container.

Atmospheric pressure is caused by the weight of the column of air molecules in the atmosphere above an object, such as the tanker car. At sea level, this pressure is roughly the same as that exerted by a full-grown African elephant standing on a doormat, or a typical bowling ball resting on your thumbnail. These may seem like huge amounts, and they are, but life on earth has evolved under such atmospheric pressure. If you actually perch a bowling ball on your thumbnail, the pressure experienced is twice the usual pressure, and the sensation is unpleasant.

In general, pressure    is defined as the force exerted on a given area: $P=\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\frac{F}{A}.$ Note that pressure is directly proportional to force and inversely proportional to area. Thus, pressure can be increased either by increasing the amount of force or by decreasing the area over which it is applied; pressure can be decreased by decreasing the force or increasing the area.

Let’s apply this concept to determine which would be more likely to fall through thin ice in [link] —the elephant or the figure skater? A large African elephant can weigh 7 tons, supported on four feet, each with a diameter of about 1.5 ft (footprint area of 250 in 2 ), so the pressure exerted by each foot is about 14 lb/in 2 :

$\text{pressure per elephant foot}=\text{14,000}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\frac{\text{lb}}{\text{elephant}}\phantom{\rule{0.4em}{0ex}}×\phantom{\rule{0.4em}{0ex}}\frac{\text{1 elephant}}{\text{4 feet}}\phantom{\rule{0.4em}{0ex}}×\phantom{\rule{0.4em}{0ex}}\frac{\text{1 foot}}{250\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}{\text{in}}^{2}}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}=14\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}{\text{lb/in}}^{2}$

The figure skater weighs about 120 lbs, supported on two skate blades, each with an area of about 2 in 2 , so the pressure exerted by each blade is about 30 lb/in 2 :

$\text{pressure per skate blade}=120\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\frac{\text{lb}}{\text{skater}}\phantom{\rule{0.4em}{0ex}}×\phantom{\rule{0.4em}{0ex}}\frac{\text{1 skater}}{\text{2 blades}}\phantom{\rule{0.4em}{0ex}}×\phantom{\rule{0.4em}{0ex}}\frac{\text{1 blade}}{2\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}{\text{in}}^{2}}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}=30\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}{\text{lb/in}}^{2}$

Even though the elephant is more than one hundred-times heavier than the skater, it exerts less than one-half of the pressure and would therefore be less likely to fall though thin ice. On the other hand, if the skater removes her skates and stands with bare feet (or regular footwear) on the ice, the larger area over which her weight is applied greatly reduces the pressure exerted:

An atom or group of atoms bearing anelectrical charge such as the sodium and chlorine atoms in a salt solution.
Hello guys! Answer me questions nah
pls wat is periodic table
Prince
it's a list that shows the chemical element arranged according to their properties.
what is the chemical equation for ideal gas?
what's Boyle and gas law?
what's the meaning of this℃ in atomic table
wat are ions
Sinyene
What is periodic table
Table that shows the elements in order of their atomic number
Uzair
organization of everything known in the universe in groups and periods. The structure is based on increasing mass and reaction properties.
Kate
How to mix chemical
why the elements of group 7 are called Noble gases
they aren't. group 8 is the noble gasses. they are snobs that don't mix with others like nobles, they have full valence shells so they don't form bonds with other elements easily. nobles don't mingle with the common folk...
Jessica
the group 7elements are not the noble gases . according to modern periodic group 18 are called noble gases elements because their valence shell are completely field so that they can't gain or loss electron so they are not able to involve in any chemical reaction.
Leena
Group 7 element they are not noble gases they halogen and halogen mean salt formers
SIRAJO
what is chemistry
chemistry is the branch of science which deal with the composition of matter
SHEDRACK
discuss the orbital stracture of the following methane,ethane,ethylene,acetylene
Why phosphurs in solid state have one atom but in gas state have four atoms
Are nuclear reactions both exothermic reactions and endothermic reactions or what?
to what volume must 8.32 NaOH be diluted to its analytical concentration 0.20 M
weight in mg 1.76 mole of I
Sheriza
the types of hydrocarbons
u are mad go and open textbook
Emmanuel
hahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Jessica
aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons
Osakue
stupid boy Emmanuel
Ohanaka
saturated and unsaturated
Leena
aromatic hydrocarbon aliphatic hydrocarbon
SIRAJO
I don't use to see the messages
Hhhhhh
SIRAJO
how can you determine the electronegativity of a compound or in molecules
when u move from left to right in a periodic table the negativity increases
reeza
Are you trying to say that the elctronegativity increases down the group and decreases across the period?
Ohanaka
yes and also increases across the period
reeza
for instance when you look at one group of elements in a periodic table electronegativity decreases when you go across the table electronegativity increases. hydrogen is more electronegative than sodium, potassium of that group. oxygen is more electronegative than carbon.
reeza
i hope we all know that organic compounds have carbon as their back bone
OK,Thank you so much for the answer. I am happy now
can I ask you a question now
Osakue
yes
hanna
what is the oxidation number of nitrogen, oxygen and sulphur
Osakue
5, -2 & -2
hanna
What is periodic table
SIRAJO
What is an atom?
is a smallest particle of a chemical element that can exist
Osakue
Osakue
it is a substance that cannot be broken down into simpler units by any chemical reaction
An atom is the smallest part of an element dat can take part in chemical reaction.
Idris
an atom is the smallest part of an element that can take part in a chemical reaction nd still retain it chemical properties
Precious
Is the smallest particles of an element that take part in chemical reaction without been change
John