Atmospheric pressure explained.
Ever felt like youre being squeezed You probably are by the air
around you This chapter introduces the surprising concept of
atmospheric pressure, explaining that were all essentially
submerged in an ocean of air. Its hard to grasp because we cant
see air like we can water, but its definitely there.
Think of it this way: imagine you were at the bottom of the ocean
youd feel immense pressure, right The same thing is happening
with air. The layers of air above us the atmosphere exert a
pressure on everything below. The deeper you go or, in this case,
the lower you are in the atmosphere, the greater that pressure.
Just how much pressure are we talking about A lot Atmospheric
pressure on an average person is approximately 101,000
Newtons per square meter N/m. To put that into perspective,
its like having a weight of around 350 kilograms roughly 770
pounds pressing down on you
The chapter then demonstrates this power with a simple
experiment. Initially, a piece of paper placed on a scale doesnt
cause it to move. However, when the paper is carefully spread
out, it suddenly lifts the scale This showcases how the
atmospheric pressure acting upward on the broad surface of the
spread paper overcomes the papers weight, allowing it to support
the scale. It emphasizes that while the weight on the paper seems
negligible, the force applied across its entire area due to
atmospheric pressure is quite significant.
Essentially, the experiment shows a tangible result of something
that is invisible, atmospheric pressure.
Atmospheric pressure is a surprisingly powerful force, far greater
than most people realize This chapter really drives that point
home through several engaging demonstrations. It starts with a
simple yet impactful experiment: crushing an empty aluminum
can using only atmospheric pressure. The key, the educator
explains, isnt brute force, but carefully spreading a sheet of paper
over the cans opening. By spreading the paper properly, I
removed the trapped air inside; we minimized the weight of the
can and provided more area for the atmospheric pressure to
apply force. This effectively creates a vacuum inside, allowing the
external atmospheric pressure shown to be around 100kg on a
Ever felt like youre being squeezed You probably are by the air
around you This chapter introduces the surprising concept of
atmospheric pressure, explaining that were all essentially
submerged in an ocean of air. Its hard to grasp because we cant
see air like we can water, but its definitely there.
Think of it this way: imagine you were at the bottom of the ocean
youd feel immense pressure, right The same thing is happening
with air. The layers of air above us the atmosphere exert a
pressure on everything below. The deeper you go or, in this case,
the lower you are in the atmosphere, the greater that pressure.
Just how much pressure are we talking about A lot Atmospheric
pressure on an average person is approximately 101,000
Newtons per square meter N/m. To put that into perspective,
its like having a weight of around 350 kilograms roughly 770
pounds pressing down on you
The chapter then demonstrates this power with a simple
experiment. Initially, a piece of paper placed on a scale doesnt
cause it to move. However, when the paper is carefully spread
out, it suddenly lifts the scale This showcases how the
atmospheric pressure acting upward on the broad surface of the
spread paper overcomes the papers weight, allowing it to support
the scale. It emphasizes that while the weight on the paper seems
negligible, the force applied across its entire area due to
atmospheric pressure is quite significant.
Essentially, the experiment shows a tangible result of something
that is invisible, atmospheric pressure.
Atmospheric pressure is a surprisingly powerful force, far greater
than most people realize This chapter really drives that point
home through several engaging demonstrations. It starts with a
simple yet impactful experiment: crushing an empty aluminum
can using only atmospheric pressure. The key, the educator
explains, isnt brute force, but carefully spreading a sheet of paper
over the cans opening. By spreading the paper properly, I
removed the trapped air inside; we minimized the weight of the
can and provided more area for the atmospheric pressure to
apply force. This effectively creates a vacuum inside, allowing the
external atmospheric pressure shown to be around 100kg on a
