A differential manometer is a device that measures the difference in pressure between two places. Differential manometers can range from devices simple enough to be built at home to complex digital equipment.
Function
- Standard manometers are used to measure the pressure in a container by comparing it to normal atmospheric pressure. Differential manometers are also used to compare the pressure of two different containers. They reveal both which container has greater pressure and how large the difference between the two is.
Use
- Differential manometers have a wide range of uses in different disciplines. One example is that they can be used to measure the flow dynamics of a gas by comparing the pressure at different points in the pipe.
- The simplest differential manometer is a U-shaped tube with both ends at the same height. A liquid, usually water or mercury, rests at the bottom of the tube.
- If one end of the tube is in a place with higher air pressure, the pressure will push down the liquid on that side of the tube. By measuring the difference between the heights of liquid, it is possible to calculate the difference in pressure.
- To calculate the difference in pressure, multiply the difference in height by the density of the gas and the acceleration due to gravity. The final units should be in pascals.
How to Solve Manometer Problems With Fluids
Fluid statics is the most basic form of fluid analysis, and manometry is one method of static fluid analysis. A manometer is a device that measures static fluid pressure. The three primary variables in a manometry problem are pressure, density and height of the fluid in the tubes. You must know at least two of these to solve a manometry problem. You must also use a common reference point when measuring your heights or the solution will be incorrect.
