TED-Ed: The history of the barometer (and how it works) - Asaf Bar-Yosef

The video explores the evolution of the understanding of vacuums, starting with Aristotle's incorrect theory that a true vacuum cannot exist. It then discusses the 17th-century problem faced by Italian miners with water pumps, leading to Galileo's theory and Berti's experiment demonstrating a vacuum. Torricelli, Galileo's pupil, proposed that atmospheric pressure influences water levels, which was validated by Pascal's mountain experiment. This led to the development of the mercury barometer, a crucial tool for measuring atmospheric pressure, until mercury's toxicity halted its production in Europe in 2007.

What was Aristotle's belief regarding the existence of a vacuum?

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How did the early 17th-century Italian miners' problem contribute to the understanding of vacuums?

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What experiment did Gasparo Berti conduct to demonstrate the possibility of a vacuum?

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What was Evangelista Torricelli's contribution to the understanding of atmospheric pressure?

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Why were mercury barometers no longer produced in Europe after 2007?

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