Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach with Modern Physics (3rd Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321740904
ISBN 13: 978-0-32174-090-8

Chapter 18 - The Micro/Macro Connection - Conceptual Questions - Page 522: 5

Answer

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Work Step by Step

No, the gauge pressure reading shouldn't jiggle or fluctuate since the time interval between the collision is infinitely small. The situation is many molecules are traveling to hit one wall while the same amount (not perfectly the same amount) of molecules are going to hit the opposite wall simultaneously. The pressure is due to these collisions. Although the pressure of a gas is due to the random collisions of molecules with the walls of the container, pressure gauges give steady readings because they are designed to average out the effects of individual molecular collisions over time.
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