Atmospheric pressure

Atmospheric pressure is the force per unit area exerted against a surface by the weight of air above that surface in the Earth's atmosphere. In most circumstances atmospheric pressure is closely approximated by the hydrostatic pressure caused by the weight of air above the measurement point. Low pressure areas have less atmospheric mass above their location, whereas high pressure areas have more atmospheric mass above their location. Similarly, as elevation increases there is less overlying atmospheric mass, so that pressure decreases with increasing elevation. What is Atmospheric Pressure? Atmospheric Pressure is the force per unit area of a column of air above you (extending all the way to the top of the atmosphere) In other words, pressure is the weight of the column of air above you - a measure of how hard this column of air is pushing down More fundamentally - atmospheric pressure arises from gravity acting on a column of air

Why Pressure? Pressure is one of the most fundamental forces which produces weather and makes our atmosphere move - i.e. WIND Pressure defines many of our most definitive weather patterns: midlatitide cyclones, hurricanes, anticyclones

Pressure Molecules bumping into an object create a force on that object Pressure is the force applied per unit area P = F/A Which box below is exerting the greatest pressure upon the ground? 1 kg 1 kg Force = m*g

Unit of atmospheric pressure

- Pascal (Pa) - centimetre/milimetre mercury (cmHg/mmHg) - atmosphere (atm) - metre water Notes: - Atmospheric Pressure at Sea Level = 1atm - 1 atm = 76cmHg

PRESSURE GAUGE
Pressure gauges measure the pressure of a liquid or gas. Pressure gauges are an essential part of many major industries. One industry in particular is a refinery. These gauges allow workers to monitor how much pressure is flowing through pipelines. There are several ways pressure gauges are used.

History The Bourbon Tube gauge was invented around 1850. This pressure gauge is still one of the most commonly used today. It was made in France by Eugene Bourbon.

Bourbon Tube The Bourbon Gauge has what is called a Bourbon Tube. The tube is located inside the gauge. The tube has one end that is sealed and another end that is connected to an inlet pipe. The inlet pipe is in direct contact with the gas or liquid. The inlet pipe allows a gas or liquid to flow into the Bourbon Tube.

Pressure The Bourbon Tube is a coiled piece of metal that is closed on one end and open on the other. When the pressure increases in the tube to a point greater than outside the tube, the Bourbon Tube will uncoil.

Indicator Located behind a clear plastic cover is an indicator or pointer. The pointer will move to show the pressure has increased when the Bourbon Tube uncoils. When the pressure in the Bourbon Tube has decreased, the pointer will move to show the pressure has been reduced.

Benefits The benefits of pressure gauges far outweigh any negative aspects. A pressure gauge can mean the difference between properly flowing liquids or gases, or a major catastrophe such as an explosion. Although many automobile pressure gauges are internal, many still have visible oil-pressure gauges. These gauges show when your oil pressure is where it should be or you might be having a problem.

Types There are many types of pressure gauges. They range from the very small to quite large. The common theme they have is to gauge or measure pressure. Some of these types of gauges are tire-pressure gauges, oil-pressure gauges, barometric-pressure gauges and blood-pressure gauges

Definition
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The definition of absolute pressure is the pressure of having no matter inside a space, or a perfect vacuum. Measurements taken in absolute pressure use this absolute zero as their reference point. The definition of sealed-gauge pressure is the pressure measured through a sealed device in which the zero point is set. This set point is whatever the pressure inside of the device was before sealing, which the manufacturer of the sealed pressure gauge decides.

Units
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To denote absolute pressure, you put a capital A after your units of pressure, such as 0PSIA or 9mmHgA. To denote sealed gauge pressure you write an SG or an S after your pressure, such as 17PSISG or 29mmHgS.

Applications
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Depending on why you are measuring pressure, you will find it more useful to use either absolute pressure or sealed gauge pressure. Absolute pressure is the measure for barometric readings such as those used for weather patterns, while sealed gauge pressure is useful for high-pressure applications such as hydraulics.

Manufacture of the Sensors

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Absolute pressure sensors and sealed gauge pressure sensors have very different manufacture specifications, as the two types of pressure readings are useful for very different applications. For example, the base construction of the sensing element is fundamentally different, as different materials can sense the high pressures of sealed gauge pressure and the low pressures of absolute pressure with varying accuracy.

Read more: Differences Between Sealed Gauge and Absolute Pressure | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/info_7842113_differences-sealed-gauge-absolute-pressure.html#ixzz1TEm3lwI2