The Torricellian experiment, named after Evangelista Torricelli who conducted it in the 17th century, is an important milestone in the discovery of atmospheric pressure. The word "Torricellian" is pronounced as "tɔːrɪˈsɛliən" with emphasis on the second syllable. In this phonetic transcription, the "ɔː" represents the "o" sound in "tor", while the "ɪ" represents the "i" sound in "ricelli". Additionally, the stress falls on the second syllable (-CEL-), thus explaining the placement of the accent in the word's spelling.
The Torricellian experiment refers to a classic scientific experiment conducted by Italian physicist Evangelista Torricelli in the 17th century. This experiment aimed to explain and demonstrate the principles of atmospheric pressure and the nature of vacuums.
The experiment involved filling a long glass tube with mercury and sealing one end. The open end of the tube was then turned upside down and submerged in a container of mercury. As a result, some of the Mercury in the tube descended, leaving a vacuum at the top of the tube. The height to which the mercury descended was observed and found to be around 76 centimeters.
This experiment was significant for two reasons. Firstly, it demonstrated the existence of a vacuum and the relationship between the pressure exerted by the atmosphere and the column of mercury in the tube. This provided evidence that air has weight and exerts pressure on objects. Secondly, it paved the way for the development of the barometer, allowing for the measurement of atmospheric pressure.
The Torricellian experiment had a profound impact on the scientific understanding of air pressure and atmospheric phenomena. It laid the foundation for the study of fluids and gases and contributed to the development of meteorology and weather forecasting. The principles and techniques used in this experiment are still relevant in contemporary scientific research and engineering applications.
A glass tube sealed at one end is filled with mercury and is then everted with the open end beneath the surface of mercury in an open vessel; the mercury in the tube will be observed to sink to a certain point, about 30 inches above the level of the mercury in the vessel, being kept at this elevation by the pressure of the atmosphere; this experiment revealed the principle of the mercurial barometer.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The term "Torricellian experiment" is named after Evangelista Torricelli, an Italian physicist and mathematician who conducted the experiment in the 17th century. The word "Torricellian" is derived from Torricelli's last name.