Physics Of Diving

Majority of the people know that diving is a high-risk and a fun-filled activity. It is becoming a very popular water sport due to the exposure of media and the facilities provided in various islands of the world. Only a few people know that there is a whole scientific logic behind the scuba diving and scuba equipments. The scuba diving is not as simple as it looks. In order to understand the physics of diving, one should first understand the four gas laws which are actually a part of Scuba Diving Certification Program. The four gas laws are namely: Charles law according to which the temperature and volume are directly proportional. The Boyle’s Law states that the pressure and volume are inversely proportion like the pressure increases the volume of gases in the diver’s body and the equipment decreases. The Dalton’s Law also plays a role in explaining the physics of scuba diving and scuba equipments. According to Dalton’s Law, the mixed gases easily compress equally by volume and the Henry’s Law of gas explains that the pressure and absorption can cause decompression sickness to a diver. All these gas laws actually govern the physics of scuba diving. There is another law called the Snell’s Law. According to this law, the refractive index of the water and similar to that of a cornea of the eye is 30% greater than air. This is the reason a diver cannot see clearly underwater without a diving mask with an internal airspace.

The buoyancy according to Greek mathematician Archimedes principle explains that some objects float in water while some sink, and some objects neither sink nor float. The law can be explained in this way that any object completely or partly immersed in the fluid, is buoyed up by a force and equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object. Actually, when the diver floats, he displaces large amount of water and this displacement of water is responsible for floating and sinking of an object.

Since the diver is only concerned with the two types of water i.e. the fresh water and the salt water. The weights of the two are not same as a cubic foot of fresh water weighs approximately 62.4 lbs while a cubic foot of salt water weighs around 64 lbs. The weight of the salt water is more than the fresh water because salt water has dissolved minerals in salt water.

The Boyle’s Law can be explained in simple words too since all people are not aware of the scientific terms and these gas laws. According to the Boyle’s Gas Law, the volume of gases is reduced when pressure is increased (diver descending) and the volume is increased on the reduction of pressure (diver ascending). The Boyle’s Law actually determines the volume of gases. It also accounts for the major portion of the diving medical problem. Once you understand the physics of diving, you can enjoy it more.