Physics and Gas Laws Flashcards

A diver's air tank pressure drops from 3000 psi to 750 psi during a dive. The ratio of remaining air to starting air is:

Answer: 1:4

750 psi remaining out of 3000 psi total = 750/3000 = 1:4 ratio.

Gay-Lussac's Law describes the relationship between pressure and temperature at constant:

Answer: Volume

Gay-Lussac's Law applies at constant volume, showing pressure is proportional to absolute temperature.

At depth, nitrogen narcosis is thought to be caused by:

Answer: The increased partial pressure of nitrogen affecting nerve membranes

High partial pressures of nitrogen (and other inert gases) dissolve into nerve cell membranes, impairing neural function.

What is the gauge pressure at 66 feet (20 m) of seawater?

Answer: 2 atm (29.4 psi)

Gauge pressure excludes atmospheric pressure: 66 ft / 33 ft per atm = 2 atm gauge.

Water absorbs heat from a diver's body much faster than air because water has a higher:

Answer: Thermal conductivity

Water conducts heat about 25 times more efficiently than air, making hypothermia a significant risk for divers.

Which gas law directly explains why a scuba regulator must reduce tank pressure in two stages to deliver breathable air?

Answer: Boyle's Law

Boyle's Law governs the relationship between pressure and volume — the regulator stages reduce pressure while managing the corresponding volume changes.

Archimedes' Principle states that a submerged object experiences an upward buoyant force equal to:

Answer: The weight of the fluid it displaces

Archimedes' Principle: buoyant force equals the weight of displaced fluid, which is why objects float when they displace their own weight in water.