Answer
The column of water would have to be 13.6 times taller than a column of mercury. When the pressure of the column of liquid standing on the surface of the liquid is equal to the pressure of air on the rest of the surface of the liquid, then the height of the column of liquid is a measure of atmospheric pressure. Because water is 13.6 times less dense than mercury, the column of water must be 13.6 times longer than that of mercury to match the force exerted by the columns of liquid standing on the surface.
Work Step by Step
see explanation above.
