National Museum of American History
Torricelli Tube
Pixii, Hippolyte
The Italian scientist, Evangelista Torricelli (1608-1647), suggested that the weight of the atmosphere was equal to a column of mercury of about 30 inches, or a column of water of about 34 feet. An apparatus demonstrating this phenomenon was known as a Torricelli tube. This example was purchased from Hippolyte Pixii in Paris circa 1830s, and used by cadets at the U.S. Military Academy. The accompanying jar (made of Pyrex) is a replacement.
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