Question

True or False: The pressure on your ears is twice as much if you dive twice as deep in water. Explain your answer using appropriate physics. Remember that the best answers use examples, numbers and diagrams as support.

Answer 1

Answer:

As you go deep underwater, the water pressure increases, because there is the weight of more and more water pushing down on you (note: water pressure always increases with depth, a phenomenon that has a number of practical applications).

As water pressure increases at greater depths, the Eustachian tube becomes clogged. As a result, the middle ear shuts off and becomes a closed chamber. Now, it is holding air at the pressure of 14.7 PSI (pressure at sea level), whereas the water that presses on the ear canal has a higher pressure than 14.7 PSI.

Due to this inequality in pressure at either side of the eardrum, it bows inwards, causing mild to moderate discomfort in the ears.

A simple way to get around this is to equalize the pressure on either side of the eardrum. A simple and popular way to do that is to hold your nose shut with your fingers and try to exhale through your nose. You will hear your ears pop and the pain will quickly subside.