At sea level, a mercury barometer shows a column height of 760 mm. The barometer is taken to the top of a mountain.

What happens to the mercury column height and why?

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Question

At sea level, a mercury barometer shows a column height of 760 mm. The barometer is taken to the top of a mountain.

What happens to the mercury column height and why?

Accepted Answer

Decreases, because atmospheric pressure is lower at higher altitude — Award 1 mark for recognising that atmospheric pressure decreases with altitude due to less air above, causing the mercury column to fall. B is incorrect — atmospheric pressure decreases, not increases, at altitude. C is incorrect — while temperature does decrease, the primary effect on barometer reading is the reduced atmospheric pressure. D is incorrect — the height depends on external pressure, not the mass of mercury.

Answer

Increases, because atmospheric pressure is higher at higher altitude

Answer

Decreases, because temperature is lower at higher altitude

Answer

Stays the same, because the mass of mercury does not change

Answer

Decreases, because atmospheric pressure is lower at higher altitude

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