Final answer:
Mercury exerts greater pressure due to its higher density compared to water in columns of the same height.
Explanation:
Mercury exerts a greater pressure than water when both are in columns of the same height due to their different densities. Mercury is about 13.6 times denser than water, meaning a column of mercury would weigh more and exert a higher pressure compared to a column of water.
Using hydrostatic pressure formula P = ρgh, where ρ is density, g is acceleration due to gravity, and h is height, the higher density of mercury results in a greater pressure exerted at the same height compared to water.
For instance, a mercury barometer only needs to be 136 as tall as a water barometer to measure the same pressure. This difference in density allows for more practical and sensitive pressure measurements in devices like manometers.
Learn more about Pressure differences between mercury and water here:
https://brainly.com/question/38971580
