Author Question: How does an aneroid barometer differ from a mercury barometer? What will be the ideal ... (Read 94 times)

colton

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 627
How does an aneroid barometer differ from a mercury barometer?
  What will be the ideal response?

Question 2

Explain why strong upper-level divergence will cause the pressure in the center of a surface low to decrease.
  What will be the ideal response?



Jody Vaughn

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 344
Answer to Question 1

ANSWER: An aneroid barometer houses a small, flexible metal box called an aneroid cell. Before the cell is tightly sealed, air is partially removed, so that small changes in external air pressure cause the cell to expand or contract. A mercury barometer consists of a long glass tube open at one end and closed at the other. Removing air from the tube and covering the open end, the lower portion of the tube is immersed into a dish of mercury. The column of mercury in the tube balances the weight of the air above the dish, and hence the height of the column is a measure of atmospheric pressure.

Answer to Question 2

ANSWER: As long as the upper-level diverging air balances the converging surface air, the central pressure in the surface low does not change. However, the surface pressure will change if upper-level divergence and surface convergence are not in balance. For example, the surface pressure will change if the mass of air above the surface changes. Consequently, if upper-level divergence exceeds surface convergence (that is, more air is removed at the top than is taken in at the surface), the air pressure at the center of the surface low will decrease, and isobars around the low will become more tightly packed. This situation increases the pressure gradient (and, hence, the pressure gradient force), which, in turn, increases the surface winds.



Related Topics

Need homework help now?

Ask unlimited questions for free

Ask a Question
 

Did you know?

The average adult has about 21 square feet of skin.

Did you know?

Nitroglycerin is used to alleviate various heart-related conditions, and it is also the chief component of dynamite (but mixed in a solid clay base to stabilize it).

Did you know?

Vampire bats have a natural anticoagulant in their saliva that permits continuous bleeding after they painlessly open a wound with their incisors. This capillary blood does not cause any significant blood loss to their victims.

Did you know?

Stevens-Johnson syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis syndrome are life-threatening reactions that can result in death. Complications include permanent blindness, dry-eye syndrome, lung damage, photophobia, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, permanent loss of nail beds, scarring of mucous membranes, arthritis, and chronic fatigue syndrome. Many patients' pores scar shut, causing them to retain heat.

Did you know?

Pink eye is a term that refers to conjunctivitis, which is inflammation of the thin, clear membrane (conjunctiva) over the white part of the eye (sclera). It may be triggered by a virus, bacteria, or foreign body in the eye. Antibiotic eye drops alleviate bacterial conjunctivitis, and antihistamine allergy pills or eye drops help control allergic conjunctivitis symptoms.

For a complete list of videos, visit our video library