The pressure in a car tire is 35 psi. Convert this to atmospheres (atm)
35 atm
2.4 atm
0.35 atm
514 atm
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
To convert the pressure in psi (pounds per square inch) to atmospheres (atm), we need to use a conversion factor between psi and atm.
1 atmosphere (atm) is equal to 14.696 psi.
So, to convert 35 psi to atmospheres, the formula is:
[
\text{Pressure in atm} = \frac{\text{Pressure in psi}}{\text{Conversion factor}} = \frac{35}{14.696} \approx 2.38 \, \text{atm}
]
This means that 35 psi is approximately equal to 2.4 atm.
Explanation:
In terms of pressure, the atmosphere (atm) is a standard unit of measurement that represents the pressure exerted by the Earth’s atmosphere at sea level. Atmospheric pressure is commonly used to compare different pressures, such as the pressure inside a tire or in a sealed container.
Pounds per square inch (psi), on the other hand, is a unit used predominantly in the United States to quantify pressure. It’s based on the force of pounds (lbs) applied to an area of one square inch. To compare pressures in different units, we need a conversion factor.
The conversion factor between psi and atm is based on the definition of atmospheric pressure: 1 atm equals the pressure exerted by a column of mercury 760 mm in height at sea level, which is equivalent to 14.696 psi. By dividing the pressure in psi by 14.696, we obtain the pressure in atmospheres.
In our case, dividing 35 psi by 14.696 results in 2.38 atm, which is rounded to 2.4 atm. This conversion is particularly useful when working with different pressure units, especially in scientific contexts where standard units are required. The answer 2.4 atm is the correct one.