Water barometer is possible provided barometer tube is _____$m$ long.
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$1$
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$3$
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$5$
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$11$
Reveal answer
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Correct answer
Explanation
If water would be used in barometer, barometer tube should have the huge height of $10.3m$ Mercury is $13.6$ times more dense than water and a column weight of only $760 mm$ of Hg equals the forces generated by atmospheric pressure, so the tube can be much shorter.
Mercury is more dense. Its relative density is $13.534$ times that of water. So, to measure the atmospheric pressure, which is $760 mm$ of mercury you need a barometer ,with mercury, of length slightly more than $0.76 m$, say one meter to cover the special cases of some higher pressure. If you use water, you have to have the length of barometer of length (or height) $13.534$ times the length of mercury barometer, which may be more than $11 m$ in length. Further mercury, being a metal has the shining quality which highlight its reading clear. Also mercury, having comparatively lower specific heat and good conductor of heat, could come to the same temperature of the atmosphere more quickly.