What is torr?
A torr is a pressure unit equal to approximately 1/760 of an atmosphere. It is used in vacuum technology, low-pressure experimental physics, and blood pressure measurement in older clinical literature.
Real-world uses
Torr is used in vacuum technology, semiconductor manufacturing, and blood pressure measurement (mmHg ≈ torr). Vacuum chambers for electron beam welding operate at about 10⁻⁵ torr, and freeze-drying processes typically operate at 0.1–1 torr.
History
Named after Evangelista Torricelli, who invented the mercury barometer in 1644. The torr was defined to approximate the pressure exerted by 1 mm of mercury. It was formally standardized as 1/760 of a standard atmosphere.
Common mistakes
Assuming torr and mmHg are exactly the same—they are nearly identical but differ by about 0.000015%. For most purposes they are interchangeable, but ultra-precise vacuum work may require distinction.
What is atmosphere?
An atmosphere (atm) is a pressure unit equal to mean atmospheric pressure at sea level, approximately 101,325 pascals. It is used as a reference in chemistry, diving tables, and altitude calculations.
Real-world uses
Atmospheres are used as a reference pressure in chemistry (standard conditions: 1 atm, 25°C), scuba diving (each 10 m of seawater adds about 1 atm), and high-pressure industrial applications like autoclaves and pressure vessels.
History
The standard atmosphere was originally defined as the pressure exerted by a 760 mm column of mercury at 0°C under standard gravity. Evangelista Torricelli first measured atmospheric pressure in 1644 using a mercury barometer, establishing this foundational concept.
Common mistakes
Confusing standard atmosphere (101,325 Pa) with technical atmosphere (1 kgf/cm² ≈ 98,066.5 Pa). Also, assuming atmospheric pressure is constant at 1 atm everywhere—it varies with altitude, weather, and temperature.
When is this conversion used?
Converting between torr and atmosphere is common when working across metric and imperial systems, such as international trade, travel between countries with different measurement standards, or following instructions from a different region. Tyre pressure gauges, HVAC systems, and industrial equipment may use different pressure units depending on the manufacturer and region. Converting between psi, bar, and kPa is common in automotive and engineering work.
Worked examples
1 torr = 0.00131579 atmosphere
1 atmosphere = 101,325 pascal
How to convert torr to atmosphere
To convert torr to atmosphere, multiply the value by 0.00131579.
To convert atmosphere back to torr, multiply by 760.
Measurement standards
The pascal (Pa) is the SI derived unit of pressure, defined as one newton per square metre. The World Meteorological Organization mandates the hectopascal (hPa) for atmospheric pressure reporting in aviation and weather services.
Did you know?
The pressure at the bottom of the Mariana Trench, nearly 11 km deep, exceeds 1,086 bar — over a thousand times atmospheric pressure. At this depth, water is compressed by about 5%, making it measurably denser than at the surface.
Quick reference: torr to atmosphere
| torr | atmosphere |
|---|---|
| 0.1 | 0.00013158 |
| 0.5 | 0.00065789 |
| 1 | 0.00131579 |
| 2 | 0.00263158 |
| 5 | 0.00657895 |
| 10 | 0.01315789 |
| 25 | 0.03289474 |
| 50 | 0.06578947 |
| 100 | 0.13157895 |
| 250 | 0.32894737 |
| 500 | 0.65789474 |
| 1,000 | 1.31578947 |
Common values
| torr | atmosphere | |
|---|---|---|
| Car tyre | 1,650.13570195 torr | 2.17123119 atmosphere |
| Standard atmosphere | 760 torr | 1 atmosphere |
| Blood pressure (systolic) | 120.00986923 torr | 0.15790772 atmosphere |
| Deep-sea submersible | 825,067.85097429 torr | 1,085.61559339 atmosphere |
| Bicycle tyre | 4,650.38243276 torr | 6.11892425 atmosphere |