Topic: Atmospheric Pressure.
Why don't we get crushed by atmospheric pressure?
Hey.
Did you hear that?
His ears popped.
Is this related to atmospheric pressure?
Yes.
We know that our earth is surrounded by a layer of air called the atmosphere.
The gravitational force of earth constantly pulls this atmosphere towards itself.
Due to this, the atmosphere exerts a pressure on the surface of the earth.
As well as on the objects present on its surface.
This pressure exerted by the atmosphere is called the atmospheric pressure.
This atmospheric pressure outside our body is balanced by the air pressure present inside our body.
When the atmospheric pressure decreases, it becomes less than the air pressure inside us.
Now, to balance the pressure inside and outside our ears, the air present inside rushes out.
Whereas, when the atmospheric pressure increases, it becomes more than the air pressure inside us.
So, to balance the pressure inside and outside our ears, the outside air rushes in.
This movement of air results in that sudden pop.
Have you noticed this before?
Has your water bottle ever got crushed once your airplane landed?
This happens because of changes in the atmospheric pressure.
Generally, the atmospheric pressure in the bottle is equal to that on the surface of the earth.
Whereas, in an airplane the atmospheric pressure is low as compared to that on the surface of the earth.
During the flight, when you open the bottle and drink some water in the airplane.
The atmospheric pressure in the bottle becomes low.
This is because.
The low pressure air present in the airplane occupies the place of water which you just drank.
However, when the airplane lands and you come out of the plane, the pressure outside the bottle.
The atmospheric pressure on the surface of earth is high as compared to the pressure inside the bottle.
Hence, the outside air exerts a greater pressure on the surface of the bottle than the inside air.
As a result, the bottle gets crushed.
Wow.
How is he able to lift such a heavy car?
Are we also powerful enough to handle such a huge amount of pressure?
Yes, to some extent we are also carrying a huge amount of pressure.
At sea level, the atmospheric pressure is about 14.7 psi.
This means that the atmosphere is exerting 14.7 pounds of force on every square inch of our body.
Which is really huge.
So, why don't we feel this immense pressure?
This is because various parts of our body such as ears, nose, lungs and stomach also contain air.
Which exerts pressure on the atmosphere which is equal to the atmospheric pressure.
In this way.
The atmospheric pressure and the air pressure present inside our body cancel each other.
As a result, we don't get crushed by the atmospheric pressure.