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Torr

physical science Maturity 11-13 Next article →

A torr is a unit used to measure pressure. Pressure is the push of a force on a surface. The torr is named after Evangelista Torricelli. He was an Italian scientist. In 1644, he showed how a barometer works. A barometer is a tool that measures air pressure.

One torr is a very small amount of pressure. It is exactly 1/760 of a standard atmosphere. An atmosphere is the weight of the air around us. Scientists also use a unit called the millitorr. One millitorr is one thousandth of a torr.

In the past, a torr was based on mercury. Mercury is a heavy, silver metal. People used the height of mercury to measure pressure. But the weight of mercury can change based on where you are on Earth. Now, the torr has a more exact definition. It does not change based on gravity or location. This makes it very useful for science. Engineers use the torr in high-vacuum physics. This is the study of places with almost no air.

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