Absolute Pressure Formula

What is Absolute Pressure?

When any pressure is detected above the absolute zero of pressure, it is labelled as absolute pressure. It is measured using a barometer, and it is equal to measuring pressure plus the atmospheric pressure.

Diagram showing absolute pressure, vacuum and gauge

Absolute pressure formula (p_abs) is given by,

P_abs=P_atm+P_gauge

where p_gauge is the gauge pressure

p_atm is atmospheric pressure.

The vacuum pressure is articulated as,

Vacuum Pressure = Atmospheric Pressure – Absolute Pressure

At sea level, it is around 14.7 pounds per square inch.

Solved Examples

Let’s see some examples of absolute pressure:

Problem 1: A pressure gauge measures the p_gauge reading as 31 psi. If the atmospheric pressure is 14.2 psi. Compute the absolute pressure that corresponds to p_gauge reading.
Answer:

Given:

p_atm (Atmospheric pressure) = 14.2 psi
p_gauge (Gauge pressure) = 31 psi
Absolute pressure (p_abs) =  p_atm + p_gauge
= 14.2 psi + 31 psi
p_gauge= 45.2 psi

Problem 2: The psia pressure instrument gives the reading as 35.8 psi. If the atmospheric pressure is 15 psi, calculate the corresponding guage pressure.
Answer:

Given:

Atmospheric pressure p_atm = 15 psi
Absolute pressure p_abs       = 35.8 psi

The Gauge pressure is
p_gauge = 35.8 psi – 15 psi
_gauge = 20.8 psi.

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