High and Low Vacuum

Most recent answer: 10/22/2007

Q:
1)WHAT IS A VACCUM 2)I HAVE HEARD THERE IS A HIGH VACUUM AND A LOW VACUUM. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENT. 3)HOW TO CREATE A HIGH AND LOW VACUUM
- KHALIP
SINGAPORE
A:
Vacuum is actually a poor word sometimes. A vacuum is actually a place with less air than elsewhere. For instance, there is no air in outer space, so we call it a vacuum.

The important thing to know is how much less air there is inside the vacuum. That’s where the words Low and High come in. Low vacuum is around 10^-4 times the atmosphere. High vacuum is 10^-8 atmospheres. There is even Ultra-High vacuum that is around 10^-12 atmospheres. So when you say something has higher vacuum, it’s the same as saying that there is less air inside.

To get a vacuum, first you need a chamber that won’t let air leak back in or be crushed by the air that's outside when there is none inside. Then, you need a special pump that will pump the air out. The more leak-proof you can make the pump and the chamber, the higher level of vacuum you can get.


Adam

(published on 10/22/2007)