How to measure the height of a building with a barometer

[BullsOnParade]

Thought these were particularly gut wrenchingly geeky, enjoy.

A Physics student who got the following question in an exam: "You are given an accurate barometer, how would you use it to determine the height of a skyscraper?"

and the hilarity ensues:
http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=767139

 

[sygyzy]

Wow, this is one of the oldest email circulated stories.

Another would be if hell was exothermic or endothermic.

 

[acemcmac]

new to me, very funny

 

[labrat25]

very funny to a science dork such as myself

 

[Atomicus]

Pretty easy, its all about reference. Put the barometer next to the building and measure the height of the barometer reading. Now move back, and stick out your hand or thumb fully extended. Mark on your hand the length of the barometer reading. And now you do the inch-worm thing where you go up the building with the marking as many times as you can. Multiply the number of lengths and estimate whats left.

Its a old boy scouting trick.