I understand that gases compress under pressure, unlike liquids and solids. So, when you are at deep levels, the gases in your lungs are compressed by the pressure, and the lungs become smaller. But how exactly does the water pressure “reach” the lungs, given that there is so much in between, such as ribs, tissues, skin, etc.? So, the gases inside your lungs are compressed because the lungs shrink. What makes the lungs shrink?
Do I understand it correctly that the water pressure pushes on your suit, which pushes on your skin, which pushes on your bones and all the way through? Does this mean that you become physically smaller deep underwater?
In: 10
First, think about how your body and lungs work at sea level above water. You are surrounded by air at 1 atmosphere of pressure, pressing on every part of your body. This pressure doesn’t compress your lungs because when you breathe, you are letting air at 1 atmosphere of pressure enter your lungs, so the pressure inside your lungs and the pressure from outside your body pushing in on your chest cavity are balanced. You don’t even notice it.
Now jump in the water and swim down. The tissue and organs around your lungs are largely incompressible, given that they are mostly water (bone is the exception, but it’s quite strong). The pressure around your body exerts force on your tissue, which exerts pressure on your lungs, which causes the gas inside to compress, reducing their volume (assuming no additional air is added to them).
Source: I am a scuba diver
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