Question

A scuba diver must decompress after a deep dive to allow excess nitrogen to exit safely from his bloodstream. The length of time required for decompression depends on the total change in pressure that the diver experienced. Find this total change in pressure for a diver who starts at a depth of d = 20.7 m in the ocean (density of seawater = 1024 kg/m3) and then travels aboard a small plane (with an unpressurized cabin) that rises to an altitude of h = 5141 m above sea level.

Answer 1

Water pressure at 20.7m = 29.414 psi
Air pressure at 5141m elev. = 5.826psia
Change in pressure = 29.414 psi + 14.7psi -5.83psi = 38.284 psi

Answer 2

Pressure underwater = DensityXgXdepth = 1024X9.8X20.7 = 207728.6 Pa

Pressure on plane = p = 101325 (1 - 2.25577 10-5 h)^5.25588 = 56519 Pa


change in pressure = 151209.6 Pa