Your empty food storage container should not be a reason for disappointment, when you’re in the physics lab or in the classroom during a hard day’s work; at least, if you look at it as a physicist or as a physics teacher. It can extend your smartphone’s ability to measure the atmospheric pressure, and form a manometer of broader use. We propose a setup and use it in discovering Stevin’s law.
Introducing the topic of pressure to junior high school students is conceptually demanding. Many researchers propose the use of fluids via the experimental route.1 Although there are numerous impressive demonstrations focusing on pupils’ interest, many fewer involve them in the learning process.2 The traditional U-tube manometer with liquid is an elegant instrument to measure the pressure. However, it has been criticized for adding difficulties concerning the pressure readings,3 because its operation assumes preexisting understanding of the...
