The pressure in Denver, Colorado averages about 632 mm Hg. How many Atmospheres is this
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
:
To convert pressure from mm Hg (millimeters of mercury) to Atmospheres (atm), we use the following conversion factor:1 atm=760 mm Hg1 \, \text{atm} = 760 \, \text{mm Hg}1atm=760mm Hg
So, to convert 632 mm Hg to atm, the formula is:Pressure in atm=Pressure in mm Hg760 mm Hg/atm\text{Pressure in atm} = \frac{\text{Pressure in mm Hg}}{760 \, \text{mm Hg/atm}}Pressure in atm=760mm Hg/atmPressure in mm Hg
Substitute the given pressure of 632 mm Hg:Pressure in atm=632760≈0.8316 atm\text{Pressure in atm} = \frac{632}{760} \approx 0.8316 \, \text{atm}Pressure in atm=760632≈0.8316atm
Thus, the pressure in Denver, Colorado, is approximately 0.832 atm.
Explanation:
Atmospheric pressure at sea level is typically 1 atm, and this corresponds to 760 mm Hg. When the pressure is given in mm Hg, you can convert it to atm by dividing the value in mm Hg by 760, as shown in the formula. Since Denver is at a higher altitude (about 1,600 meters above sea level), the atmospheric pressure is lower than at sea level, which is why the pressure in Denver (632 mm Hg) is less than 1 atm.
This lower pressure means that the air in Denver is thinner, which is why people who live at higher altitudes may notice it can be harder to breathe compared to sea level locations.
