How is absolute pressure obtained from a gauge reading?
AAdd atmospheric pressure to it
BSubtract atmospheric pressure
CDivide by atmospheric pressure
DMultiply by atmospheric pressure
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. Add atmospheric pressure to it
1. Atmospheric pressure does add to the pressure in any fluid that is not sealed in a rigid container, because pressures add.
2. A gauge, however, has already been zeroed against atmospheric pressure.
3. Absolute pressure is therefore the gauge pressure plus atmospheric pressure.
4. Subtracting would double the omission rather than correct it, and pressures combine by addition rather than by multiplication.
_Source: OpenStax College Physics (CC BY 4.0), Ch 11 "Fluid Statics", section 11.6 Gauge Pressure, Absolute Pressure, and Pressure Measurement_
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