When a personsnorkels, the lungs are connecteddirectly to the atmosphere throughthe snorkel tube and thus are at atmosphericpressure. In atmospheres,what is the differencebetween this internal air pressureand the water pressure against thebody if the length of the snorkeltube is (a) 20 cm (standard situation) and (b) 4.0 m (probablylethal situation)? In the latter, the pressure difference causesblood vessels on the walls of the lungs to rupture, releasing bloodinto the lungs., an elephant can safelysnorkel through its trunk while swimming with its lungs 4.0 m belowthe water surface because the membrane around its lungscontains connective tissue that holds and protects the blood vessels,preventing rupturing.
Fluid Pressure
The term fluid pressure is coined as, the measurement of the force per unit area of a given surface of a closed container. It is a branch of physics that helps to study the properties of fluid under various conditions of force.
Gauge Pressure
Pressure is the physical force acting per unit area on a body; the applied force is perpendicular to the surface of the object per unit area. The air around us at sea level exerts a pressure (atmospheric pressure) of about 14.7 psi but this doesn’t seem to bother anyone as the bodily fluids are constantly pushing outwards with the same force but if one swims down into the ocean a few feet below the surface one can notice the difference, there is increased pressure on the eardrum, this is due to an increase in hydrostatic pressure.
When a person
snorkels, the lungs are connected
directly to the atmosphere through
the snorkel tube and thus are at atmospheric
pressure. In atmospheres,
what is the difference
between this internal air pressure
and the water pressure against the
body if the length of the snorkel
tube is (a) 20 cm (standard situation) and (b) 4.0 m (probably
lethal situation)? In the latter, the pressure difference causes
blood vessels on the walls of the lungs to rupture, releasing blood
into the lungs., an elephant can safely
snorkel through its trunk while swimming with its lungs 4.0 m below
the water surface because the membrane around its lungs
contains connective tissue that holds and protects the blood vessels,
preventing rupturing.
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