On a climb up Mount Whitney, the atmospheric pressure drops to 467 mmHg. What is the pressure in terms of the following units?
b. torr

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the relationship between mmHg and torr: By definition, 1 mmHg is equal to 1 torr. This means that the numerical value of pressure in mmHg is the same as the numerical value in torr.
2. Identify the given pressure: The problem states that the atmospheric pressure is 467 mmHg.
3. Apply the conversion factor: Since 1 mmHg = 1 torr, the pressure in torr is numerically the same as the pressure in mmHg.
4. State the result: The pressure in torr is equal to the given pressure in mmHg, which is 467 torr.
5. Conclude that no further calculations are necessary because the units are directly equivalent.

Key Concepts

Atmospheric Pressure

Atmospheric pressure is the force exerted by the weight of air above a given point, typically measured in units such as mmHg, torr, or pascals. At sea level, standard atmospheric pressure is approximately 760 mmHg. As altitude increases, such as on a climb up Mount Whitney, atmospheric pressure decreases due to the reduced weight of the air above.

Unit Conversion

Unit conversion is the process of converting a measurement from one unit to another while maintaining the same quantity. In this context, converting mmHg to torr involves recognizing that 1 mmHg is equivalent to 1 torr, making the conversion straightforward. Understanding unit conversion is essential for accurately interpreting and communicating measurements in different contexts.

Torr

The torr is a unit of pressure defined as 1/760 of standard atmospheric pressure, equivalent to 1 mmHg. It is commonly used in scientific contexts, particularly in fields like meteorology and physics, to express low pressures. Knowing that 467 mmHg is equal to 467 torr simplifies the task of reporting pressure in different units.