The semiconductor industry manufactures integrated circuits in large vacuum chambers where the pressure is 1.0×10^−10 mm of Hg. a. What fraction is this of atmospheric pressure?

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the atmospheric pressure in the same units as the given pressure for comparison. Atmospheric pressure at sea level is typically about 760 mm of Hg.
2. Convert the atmospheric pressure into the same scientific notation format for ease of calculation. This would be 7.6×10^2 mm of Hg.
3. Set up a fraction with the pressure in the vacuum chamber as the numerator and the atmospheric pressure as the denominator to find the fraction of the vacuum chamber pressure relative to atmospheric pressure.
4. Perform the division by aligning the powers of ten in the numerator and the denominator to simplify the calculation.
5. Simplify the fraction to its lowest terms if necessary to get the final fraction of the vacuum chamber pressure relative to atmospheric pressure.

Key Concepts

Atmospheric Pressure

Atmospheric pressure is the force exerted by the weight of air above a given point, typically measured at sea level. Standard atmospheric pressure is defined as 1013.25 hPa (hectopascals) or 760 mm of Hg (millimeters of mercury). Understanding this concept is crucial for comparing other pressures, such as those in vacuum chambers, to the baseline atmospheric pressure.

Vacuum Pressure

Vacuum pressure refers to the pressure in a system that is lower than the atmospheric pressure. It is often measured in units such as mm of Hg or pascals. In the context of the semiconductor industry, achieving a vacuum of 1.0×10^−10 mm of Hg indicates an extremely low pressure, which is essential for processes like deposition and etching in integrated circuit manufacturing.

Pressure Ratio

The pressure ratio is the comparison of two pressures, typically expressed as a fraction or percentage. To find the fraction of a specific pressure relative to atmospheric pressure, one divides the given pressure by the standard atmospheric pressure. This concept is important for understanding how much lower the vacuum pressure is compared to normal atmospheric conditions, which can impact various physical processes.