To prove that air has weight and exerts pressure on the earth, this experiment is conducted. A glass tube is filled with mercury. A finger is placed over the end to keep the mercury from slipping out, and the tube is inverted into a cup as shown. The mercury will fall, rise and after a few oscillations, will come to rest at a height above the top of the mercury in a glass equal to about 30 inches.

Pneumatics Experiment

To prove that air has weight and exerts pressure on the earth, this experiment is conducted. A glass…

Tension is the force which a gas always exerts when confined to a limited space. In the example, a partially filled football is placed in a glass jar (a receiver) from which air has been exhausted. The football immediately expands. This experiment also works with a bladder. A branch of mechanics that deals with the properties of gases is called pneumatics.

Pneumatics

Tension is the force which a gas always exerts when confined to a limited space. In the example, a partially…