Find the pressure of a mercury column 76 cm high (rho = 13600 kg/m³) — Physics problems | PhysLabo
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Pressure of a mercury column

Easy 9 grade Mechanics / Hydrostatics

Find the pressure produced by a mercury column of height $h = 76$ cm. The density of mercury is $\rho = 13600$ kg/m³, $g = 10$ m/s².

Given
  • $h = 76$ cm $= 0.76$ m
  • $\rho = 13600$ kg/m³
  • $g = 10$ m/s²
  • $p = ?$
Visual demonstration
Hints
Hint 1 / 2
Hydrostatic pressure formula: $p = \rho g h$.
Hint 2 / 2
Convert centimetres to metres: $76$ cm $= 0.76$ m.
Solution

Hydrostatic pressure of a liquid column:

$$p = \rho g h = 13600 \cdot 10 \cdot 0.76 = 103\,360 \text{ Pa} \approx 1.03 \cdot 10^5 \text{ Pa}$$

Answer

$p \approx 1.03 \cdot 10^5$ Pa (103 360 Pa)