Torricelli Today

Students learn how Torricelli built his first barometer. They performed a similar experiment using a straw and colored water to understand what was meant by atmospheric pressure. They were... See More

Students learn how Torricelli built his first barometer. They performed a similar experiment using a straw and colored water to understand what was meant by atmospheric pressure. They were asked to predict the effects if a longer glass tubing were used instead. The teacher built a longer one with materials from a hardware store and placed it outdoors. Students were then asked to reflect on their hypothesis. This makes for good learning but requires a safe location to place the longer barometer.