Atmospheric Pressure

TL;DR

Atmospheric pressure does not crush objects because the pressure from the air inside balances out the pressure from the outside.

Transcript

I want to address this question that people always have when they're like oh wait wouldn't atmospheric pressure just the pressure of gas in the atmosphere shouldn't that Crush things right shouldn't that like crush anything because there's that high pressure well no and I'll tell you why here's like a can imagine this is like a metal can and it's o... Read More

Key Insights

• 😍 Atmospheric pressure doesn't crush objects because the air inside creates a balance of forces.
• 😍 Removing air from an object can lead to it being crushed by atmospheric pressure.
• 👻 Atmospheric pressure allows us to drink through a straw by creating a balance of pressures.
• 👱 The amount of air inside an object affects its ability to resist atmospheric pressure.
• 🫷 Atmospheric pressure can push liquids up into a straw when air is removed from it.
• ⚖️ The concept of pressure balance is crucial in understanding atmospheric pressure.
• 😍 Objects with closed systems can still be crushed if the air inside is removed.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why doesn't atmospheric pressure crush objects?

Atmospheric pressure doesn't crush objects because the air inside exerts a force equal to the pressure from the outside, creating a balance of forces.

Q: Can objects be crushed if the air inside is removed?

Yes, if the air inside is removed, the remaining small number of gas particles cannot exert enough force to balance out the atmospheric pressure. This can lead to the object being crushed.

Q: How does atmospheric pressure allow us to drink through a straw?

Atmospheric pressure allows us to drink through a straw by creating a balance of pressures. When we suck on the straw, we remove air from inside, causing the atmospheric pressure to push the liquid up into the straw and into our mouths.

Q: Why do the pushes of atmospheric pressure become stronger than the small push on the water in the straw?

When we suck on the straw, the air inside is removed, but the atmospheric pressure remains the same. This means that the large pushes from atmospheric pressure are stronger than the small push on the water, allowing it to be pushed up into the straw.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Atmospheric pressure does not crush objects because the air inside pushes back with equal force.

• Objects can be crushed if the air inside is removed and there is no counterbalancing force.

• The balance of pressures is also responsible for allowing us to drink through a straw.