Nitrogen, the most abundant gas in the atmosphere (78%), is not necessary in the cardiovascular system and it causes no harm under typical atmospheric conditions. For instance, at standard atmospheric pressure nitrogen can absorb into your skin. This is not an issue until you dive underwater. Henry's Law (chemistry) states that the amount of gas that dissolves in a liquid is directly proportional to the gas' partial pressure. When the partial pressure of nitrogen increases, it will be absorbed into the blood stream. This is not particularly dangerous, although it can lead to a pleasant feeling called "nitrogen narcosis" in some people. The real danger is when the diver resurfaces. When the diver begins to ascend, the partial pressure of nitrogen decreases and nitrogen comes out of solution as small bubbles of gas in the bloodstream. The buildup of nitrogen can be removed from the body by passing nitrogen through the bloodstream and into the lungs where it is exhaled. However, this takes time. If a diver surfaces quickly, problems can arise. (a) A recreational diver descends to 222 feet and stays there for some time. What absolute pressure do they experience at this depth? Tip: Make sure you convert feet to m! P depth = Pa (b) As the diver begins to ascend, a small bubble of nitrogen (2 μm diameter) comes out of solution into the bloodstream. What is the diameter of this bubble at the surface? Hint: Use the Ideal Gas Law assuming constant temperature (P;V; = P+V+). What is the volume of a sphere? Diameter = μη (c) How does this diameter compare to the diameter of the capillaries (6 - 8 μm) or venules (10 - 50 μm) of the body? Will this bubble cause problems?
Nitrogen, the most abundant gas in the atmosphere (78%), is not necessary in the cardiovascular system and it causes no harm under typical atmospheric conditions. For instance, at standard atmospheric pressure nitrogen can absorb into your skin. This is not an issue until you dive underwater. Henry's Law (chemistry) states that the amount of gas that dissolves in a liquid is directly proportional to the gas' partial pressure. When the partial pressure of nitrogen increases, it will be absorbed into the blood stream. This is not particularly dangerous, although it can lead to a pleasant feeling called "nitrogen narcosis" in some people. The real danger is when the diver resurfaces. When the diver begins to ascend, the partial pressure of nitrogen decreases and nitrogen comes out of solution as small bubbles of gas in the bloodstream. The buildup of nitrogen can be removed from the body by passing nitrogen through the bloodstream and into the lungs where it is exhaled. However, this takes time. If a diver surfaces quickly, problems can arise. (a) A recreational diver descends to 222 feet and stays there for some time. What absolute pressure do they experience at this depth? Tip: Make sure you convert feet to m! P depth = Pa (b) As the diver begins to ascend, a small bubble of nitrogen (2 μm diameter) comes out of solution into the bloodstream. What is the diameter of this bubble at the surface? Hint: Use the Ideal Gas Law assuming constant temperature (P;V; = P+V+). What is the volume of a sphere? Diameter = μη (c) How does this diameter compare to the diameter of the capillaries (6 - 8 μm) or venules (10 - 50 μm) of the body? Will this bubble cause problems?
Physics for Scientists and Engineers, Technology Update (No access codes included)
9th Edition
ISBN:9781305116399
Author:Raymond A. Serway, John W. Jewett
Publisher:Raymond A. Serway, John W. Jewett
Chapter21: The Kinetic Theory Of Gases
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 21.1OQ: Cylinder A contains oxygen (O2) gas, and cylinder B contains nitrogen (N2) gas. If the molecules in...
Related questions
Question
100%
Transcribed Image Text:Nitrogen, the most abundant gas in the atmosphere (78%), is not necessary in the cardiovascular
system and it causes no harm under typical atmospheric conditions. For instance, at standard
atmospheric pressure nitrogen can absorb into your skin. This is not an issue until you dive
underwater. Henry's Law (chemistry) states that the amount of gas that dissolves in a liquid is
directly proportional to the gas' partial pressure. When the partial pressure of nitrogen increases, it
will be absorbed into the blood stream. This is not particularly dangerous, although it can lead to a
pleasant feeling called "nitrogen narcosis" in some people.
The real danger is when the diver resurfaces. When the diver begins to ascend, the partial pressure
of nitrogen decreases and nitrogen comes out of solution as small bubbles of gas in the bloodstream.
The buildup of nitrogen can be removed from the body by passing nitrogen through the
bloodstream and into the lungs where it is exhaled. However, this takes time. If a diver surfaces
quickly, problems can arise.
(a) A recreational diver descends to 222 feet and stays there for some time. What absolute pressure
do they experience at this depth?
Tip: Make sure you convert feet to m!
P
depth
=
Pa
(b) As the diver begins to ascend, a small bubble of nitrogen (2 μm diameter) comes out of solution
into the bloodstream. What is the diameter of this bubble at the surface?
Hint: Use the Ideal Gas Law assuming constant temperature (P;V; = P₁V+). What is the volume of a
sphere?
Diameter =
μm
(c) How does this diameter compare to the diameter of the capillaries (6-8 μm) or venules (10 - 50
μm) of the body? Will this bubble cause problems?
The bubble will cause a problem.
The bubble will not cause a problem
d. If many bubbles of nitrogen come out of solution, they
such that a 'super-bubble' of 30 μm diameter forms at a
Expert Solution
This question has been solved!
Explore an expertly crafted, step-by-step solution for a thorough understanding of key concepts.
This is a popular solution!
Trending now
This is a popular solution!
Step by step
Solved in 4 steps with 4 images
Knowledge Booster
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, physics and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.Recommended textbooks for you
Physics for Scientists and Engineers, Technology …
Physics
ISBN:
9781305116399
Author:
Raymond A. Serway, John W. Jewett
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Principles of Physics: A Calculus-Based Text
Physics
ISBN:
9781133104261
Author:
Raymond A. Serway, John W. Jewett
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Physics for Scientists and Engineers, Technology …
Physics
ISBN:
9781305116399
Author:
Raymond A. Serway, John W. Jewett
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Principles of Physics: A Calculus-Based Text
Physics
ISBN:
9781133104261
Author:
Raymond A. Serway, John W. Jewett
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Foundations…
Physics
ISBN:
9781133939146
Author:
Katz, Debora M.
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
University Physics Volume 1
Physics
ISBN:
9781938168277
Author:
William Moebs, Samuel J. Ling, Jeff Sanny
Publisher:
OpenStax - Rice University
College Physics
Physics
ISBN:
9781938168000
Author:
Paul Peter Urone, Roger Hinrichs
Publisher:
OpenStax College