Atmospheric pressure at the top of Pikes Peak in Colorado is approximately 480 mm Hg. Convert this value to atmospheres and to pascals.

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the conversion factors needed: 1 atmosphere (atm) is equivalent to 760 mm Hg, and 1 atm is equivalent to 101325 pascals (Pa).
2. Convert the pressure from mm Hg to atmospheres by dividing the given pressure by the conversion factor for mm Hg to atmospheres. Use the formula: Pressure (atm) = Pressure (mm Hg) / 760 mm Hg.
3. Calculate the pressure in atmospheres using the formula from the previous step.
4. Convert the pressure from atmospheres to pascals by multiplying the pressure in atmospheres by the conversion factor for atmospheres to pascals. Use the formula: Pressure (Pa) = Pressure (atm) imes 101325 Pa.
5. Calculate the pressure in pascals using the formula from the previous step.

Key Concepts

Pressure Units

Pressure is a measure of force applied per unit area. Common units for pressure include millimeters of mercury (mm Hg), atmospheres (atm), and pascals (Pa). Understanding how to convert between these units is essential for solving problems related to pressure in different contexts.

Conversion Factors

Conversion factors are numerical values used to convert one unit of measurement to another. For pressure, the conversion from mm Hg to atm is based on the fact that 1 atm is equivalent to 760 mm Hg. Similarly, to convert mm Hg to pascals, the conversion factor is that 1 mm Hg equals approximately 133.322 Pa.

Atmospheric Pressure

Atmospheric pressure is the pressure exerted by the weight of the atmosphere above a given point. It varies with altitude; at sea level, it is defined as 1 atm (760 mm Hg). At higher altitudes, such as Pikes Peak, the atmospheric pressure decreases, which is important for understanding how pressure changes with elevation.