Question
Explain with an example that atmosphere exerts a huge pressure.
Solution
Atmosphere exerts a huge pressure.
For example, let us consider a hollow sphere.
i) Cut the sphere into two hemispheres.
ii) Place the two hemispheres in contact with each other.
iii) When there is air inside the hemispheres, two get easily separated. This is because there is air on both the sides of sphere at same pressure and hence net force on each hemisphere is zero and could be easily separated.
iv) Now remove the air by using vacuum pump from the two hemispheres by placing in contact with each other.
v) When there is prefect vacuum inside, you will see that you are not able to separate them even by applying a large force.
For example, let us consider a hollow sphere.
i) Cut the sphere into two hemispheres.
ii) Place the two hemispheres in contact with each other.
iii) When there is air inside the hemispheres, two get easily separated. This is because there is air on both the sides of sphere at same pressure and hence net force on each hemisphere is zero and could be easily separated.
iv) Now remove the air by using vacuum pump from the two hemispheres by placing in contact with each other.
v) When there is prefect vacuum inside, you will see that you are not able to separate them even by applying a large force.
As shown in figure, if we have a sphere of surface area 1 m2, we need the weights more than 10 quintal to separate the two hemispheres. This experiment shows that air exerts a huge pressure.
