Chapter 5, Problem 53RE

Ascent rate of a scuba diver Divers who ascend too quickly in the water risk decompression illness. A common recommendation for a maximum rate of ascent is 30 feet/minute with a 5-minute safety stop 15 feet below the surface of the water. Suppose that a diver ascends to the surface in 8 minutes according to the velocity function

$v(t)=\{\begin{array}{ll}30\hfill & \text{if 0}\le t\le 2\hfill \\ 0\hfill & \text{if }2<t\le 7\hfill \\ 15\hfill & \text{if }7<t\le 8.\hfill \end{array}$

1. a. Graph the velocity function v.
2. b. Compute the area under the velocity curve.
3. c. Interpret the physical meaning of the area under the velocity curve.