2. Invention of the Barometer The barometer measures atmospheric pressure using water, air, or mercury Inventor: Evangelista Torricelli in 1664 Torricelli built the first mercury barometer around 1644 It works by balancing the weight of the mercury against the weight of the atmosphere like a scale If the weight of the mercury is less than the pressure, then the mercury in the tube rises. If the pressure is more, the mercury level falls inside the tube. A mercury barometer is usually a 3ft glass tube filled with mercury in a dish that also holds mercury. It can also be a U-shaped tube.
3. History It was made by accident Torricelli noticed the level of the mercury changed from day to day Robert Boyle said in 1665 that a U-shaped tube filled with mercury would work just as well. He also developed a lever arrangement, and with a further development, he added a dial to show the mercury level in inches
