(urth) Terminus Est

[Tim Walters]

>  When you raise the sword, the mercury would pool at
> the bottom in both channels.  Then on the downstroke,
> the mercury would flow down both channels, resulting
> in the same air compression problem.

I'm no physicist, but wouldn't this happen only if the mercury were in
perfect equilibrium on both sides? Otherwise the downward pressure on the
side with more mercury would push the air around, and the rest of the
mercury up, I think.

-- 
Tim Walters | http://doubtfulpalace.com