Nate Core Practice Test 2025 – Comprehensive Exam Prep

The correct answer is that 14.7 psia represents standard atmospheric pressure. This is a critical reference point in many scientific and engineering applications. Atmospheric pressure at sea level is approximately 14.7 pounds per square inch absolute (psia).

To clarify, psia stands for pounds per square inch absolute, which measures pressure relative to a complete vacuum, while psig (pounds per square inch gauge) measures pressure relative to atmospheric pressure. When considering that standard atmospheric pressure is defined as 14.7 psia, a pressure of 0 psig indicates that the gauge pressure is equal to atmospheric pressure. In essence, if you have a gauge that reads 0 psig, it means the pressure inside the system is equal to the surrounding atmospheric pressure, which is 14.7 psia.

Therefore, while 14.7 psia does not directly indicate a high vacuum or moderate pressure, it is essential to understand that 0 psig corresponds to standard atmospheric pressure, making it the relevant context for this scenario.