If deep-sea divers rise to the surface too quickly, nitrogen bubbles in their blood can expand and prove fatal. This phenomenon is known as the bends. If a scuba diver rises quickly from a depth of 25 m in Lake Michigan (which is fresh water), what will be the volume at the surface of an N₂ bubble that occupied 1.0 mm³ in his blood at the lower depth? Does it seem that this difference is large enough to be a problem? (Assume that the pressure difference is due to only the changing water pressure, not to any temperature difference. This assumption is reasonable, since we are warm-blooded creatures.)

If deep-sea divers rise to the surface too quickly, nitrogen bubbles in their blood can expand and prove fatal. This phenomenon is known as the bends. If a scuba diver rises quickly from a depth of 25 m in Lake Michigan (which is fresh water), what will be the volume at the surface of an N₂ bubble that occupied 1.0 mm³ in his blood at the lower depth? Does it seem that this difference is large enough to be a problem? (Assume that the pressure difference is due to only the changing water pressure, not to any temperature difference. This assumption is reasonable, since we are warm-blooded creatures.)