WHAT IS ABSOLUTE PRESSURE?

4 Jul , 2011 by Matt Williams

When it comes to measurements, the everyday kind that deal with things like air
pressure, tire pressure, blood pressure, etc., there is no such thing as an absolute
accuracy. And yet, as with most things, scientists are able to come up with a relatively
accurate way of gauging these things by measuring them relative to other things. When
it comes to air pressure (say for example, inside a tire), this takes the form of measuring
it relative to ambient air temperature, or a perfect vacuum. The latter case, where zero
pressure is referred against a total vacuum, is known as Absolute Pressure. The name
may seem slightly ironic, but since the comparison is against an environment in which
there is no air pressure to speak of.

In the larger context of pressure measurement, Absolute Pressure is part of the zero
reference trinity. This includes Absolute Pressure (AP), Gauge Pressure, and
Differential Pressure. As already noted, AP is zero referenced against a perfect
vacuum. This is the method of choice when measuring quantities where absolute values
must be determined. Gauge Pressure, on the other hand, is referenced against ambient
air pressure, and is used for conventional purposes such as measuring tire and blood
pressure. Differential Pressure is quite simply the difference between the two points.

Cases where AP are used include atmospheric pressures readings: where one is trying
to determine air pressure (expressed in units of atms, where one is equal to 101,325
Pa), Mean Sea Level pressure (the air pressure at sea level; on average: 101.325 kPa),
or the boiling point of water (which varies based on elevation and differences in air
pressure). Another instance of AP being the method of choice is with the measurement
of deep vacuum pressures (aka. outer space) where absolute readings are needed
since scientists are dealing with a near-total vacuum. Altimeter pressure is another
instance, where air pressure is used to determine the altitude of an aircraft and absolute
values are needed to ensure both accuracy and safety.

To produce an absolute pressure sensor, manufacturer will seal a high vacuum behind
the sensing diaphragm. If the connection of an absolute pressure transmitter is open to
the air, it will read the actual barometric pressure (which is roughly 14.7 PSI). This is
different from most gauges, such as those used to measure tire pressure, in that such
gauges are calibrated to take into account ambient air pressure (i.e. registering 14.7 PSI
as zero).

We have written many articles about absolute pressure for Universe Today. Heres an
article about Boyles Law, and heres an article about air density.

If youd like more info on absolute pressure, check out an article about pressure from
Wikipedia. Also, heres another article from Engineering Toolbox.

Weve also recorded an entire episode of Astronomy Cast all about Temperature. Listen
here, Episode 204: Temperature.

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pressure_measurement
http://www.pumpworld.com/absolute%20pressure.htm
http://www.sensorsone.co.uk/pressure-measurement-glossary/absolute-pressure.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmospheric_pressure
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altimeter
Related

What Is Atmospheric Pressure

In "Guide to Space"
Charles Law
In "Guide to Space"

What is Boyle's Law

In "Guide to Space"

Ketika datang ke pengukuran, jenis sehari-hari yang berhubungan dengan hal-hal seperti tekanan udara,
tekanan ban, tekanan darah, dll, tidak ada hal seperti akurasi mutlak. Namun, seperti kebanyakan hal,
para ilmuwan dapat datang dengan cara yang relatif akurat untuk mengukur hal-hal ini dengan
mengukur mereka relatif terhadap hal-hal lain. Ketika datang ke tekanan udara (katakanlah misalnya,
dalam ban), ini mengambil bentuk mengukurnya relatif ambien suhu udara, atau vakum sempurna.
Kasus terakhir, di mana tekanan nol disebut terhadap total vakum, dikenal sebagai Absolute Pressure.
Nama mungkin tampak sedikit ironis, tapi karena perbandingan itu terhadap lingkungan di mana tidak
ada tekanan udara untuk berbicara tentang.

Dalam konteks yang lebih besar dari pengukuran tekanan, tekanan Mutlak adalah bagian dari "referensi
nol" trinitas. Ini termasuk Tekanan Mutlak (AP), Gauge Tekanan, dan Tekanan Diferensial. Seperti telah
dicatat, AP adalah nol direferensikan terhadap vakum sempurna. Ini adalah metode pilihan ketika
mengukur jumlah mana nilai-nilai mutlak harus ditentukan. Gauge Tekanan, di sisi lain, dirujuk terhadap
tekanan udara ambien, dan digunakan untuk tujuan konvensional seperti mengukur ban dan tekanan
darah. Tekanan Diferensial cukup hanya perbedaan antara dua titik.

Kasus di mana AP digunakan meliputi atmosfer tekanan pembacaan: di mana seseorang mencoba untuk
menentukan tekanan udara (dinyatakan dalam satuan atm, di mana satu sama dengan 101.325 Pa),
Berarti Sea Level tekanan (tekanan udara di permukaan laut; rata-rata: 101,325 kPa), atau titik didih air
(yang bervariasi berdasarkan elevasi dan perbedaan tekanan udara). contoh lain dari AP menjadi
metode pilihan adalah dengan pengukuran tekanan vakum dalam (alias. luar angkasa) di mana
pembacaan mutlak diperlukan karena para ilmuwan berurusan dengan vacuum nyaris total. tekanan
altimeter adalah contoh lain, di mana tekanan udara yang digunakan untuk menentukan ketinggian
pesawat terbang dan nilai-nilai mutlak diperlukan untuk memastikan akurasi dan keamanan.

Untuk menghasilkan sebuah sensor tekanan absolut, produsen akan menutup vakum tinggi di belakang
diafragma penginderaan. Jika koneksi dari pemancar tekanan absolut terbuka untuk udara, itu akan
membaca tekanan udara yang sebenarnya (yang kira-kira 14,7 PSI). Hal ini berbeda dari kebanyakan alat
pengukur, seperti yang digunakan untuk mengukur tekanan ban, dalam alat pengukur tersebut
dikalibrasi untuk memperhitungkan tekanan udara akun ambien (yaitu mendaftarkan 14,7 PSI sebagai
nol).