Question

Part A If the diver were to ascend to the surface (where the pressure is 1.0 atm) while holding her breath, to what volume would the air in her lungs expand? (Assume constant temperature.) Express your answer using two significant figures. VAED V2 L Submit Request Answer

Answer 1

Initial Volume of air inside the lungs of the diver at a depth of 43 m =

Vi = 5.5 L

Initial pressure at that depth =

P1 = 5.3 atm

Now, we can assume that the air obeys ideal gas laws, hence, According to Boyle's law, at constant temperature, the pressure and volume are inversely related.

P« PV = constant PiV1 = P2V2

Given that the final pressure at the surface =

P=1 atm

Hence, the final volume to which the air in the lungs will expand can be calculated as

PVi = PxV2 PIVI = = P 5.3 atm x 5.5 L -= 29.15 L 1.0 atm 29 L

Hence, the answer is 29 L ( rounded to 2 significant figures).