How Does the Volume of a Diver's Exhaled Bubble Change from Deep Sea to Surface?

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SUMMARY

The volume of a diver's exhaled bubble changes significantly as it rises from a depth of 25 meters to the surface. At 25 meters, the pressure is calculated using the formula P = Po + Density(g)(h), resulting in a pressure of 3.5 x 10^5 Pa. The initial volume of the bubble is 1 cm³, which expands to approximately 3.6 cm³ at the surface due to the decrease in pressure and increase in temperature from 5 degrees Celsius to 20 degrees Celsius. The calculations confirm the application of the ideal gas law, PV = nRT, throughout the process.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of the Ideal Gas Law (PV = nRT)
  • Knowledge of pressure calculations in fluids (P = Po + Density(g)(h))
  • Basic principles of thermodynamics related to gas behavior
  • Familiarity with units of measurement (Pa, m³, cm³)
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  • Study the application of the Ideal Gas Law in varying temperature and pressure conditions
  • Learn about buoyancy and pressure changes in fluids
  • Research the effects of temperature on gas volume and density
  • Explore real-world applications of gas laws in diving and underwater physics
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Students studying physics, particularly those focusing on thermodynamics and fluid mechanics, as well as divers and marine scientists interested in the behavior of gases under pressure.

latitude
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Homework Statement


Well, I did get an answer to this, but I don't think I did it right. It kinda seems wrong to me, so I wanted a second opinion :)

At 25 m below the surface of the sea (Density = 1025 kg/m^3), where the temperature is 5 degrees Celsius, a diver exhales an air bubble having a volume of 1 cm^3. If the surface temp of the sea is 20 degrees Celsius, what is the volume of the bubble just before it breaks the surface?


Homework Equations


Ideal gas: PV = nRT
P = Po + (DENSITY)gh ??Not sure if I should use this??


The Attempt at a Solution



P = Po + Density(g)(h) = 1.013 x 10^5 Pa + (1025)(9.81)(25)
P = 3.5 x 10^5 Pa (This seems fairly logical to me... kinda? But I'm not very logical :P)

Under the sea
(3.5 x 10^5)(0.01 m^3) = n(3.814)(278 degrees K)
n = 3.3
At surface
(1.013 x 10^5)(V) = (3.3)(3.814)(293)
V = 0.036 m^3, or 3.6 cm^3... that's fairly reasonable, isn't it?? But I'm not sure if using the P = Po + density(g)(h) was all right when the height is below the sea like that ??
 
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You can use pv=nRT remember that 'nR' isconstant.
Then you just need to find the pressure at 25m underwater, p = density * g * h
 
Forgive me if I sound dense (I may very well be!) but isn't that kind of what I did? If it's been smart enough to note they were constant, I could have done it with less work
 
latitude said:
But I'm not sure if using the P = Po + density(g)(h) was all right when the height is below the sea like that ??

Looks OK to me.
 

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