Please direct all general questions about submarines, water pressure deep in the ocean, and similar questions to this sticky. Within this sticky, top-level questions (direct “replies” to me) should be questions, rather than explanations. The rules about off-topic discussion will be **somewhat** relaxed. Please keep in mind that all other rules – especially Rule 1: Be Civil – are still in effect.
Please also note: this is **not** a place to ask specific questions about the [recent submersible accident](https://www.npr.org/2023/06/22/1183661199/sub-titan-titanic-missing-search). The rule against recent or current events is still in effect, and is for general subjects, not specific instances with straightforward answers. General questions that reference the sub, such as “Why would a submarine implode like the one that just did that?” are fine; specific questions like, “What failed on this sub that made it implode?” are not.
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It’s difficult to wrap your head around this, but right now the weight of air around you(at sea level) is pushing on your body- all over at once. Your diaphragm /rib cage move to create a small difference in pressure so that air is actually rushing into your lungs to fill that vacuum.
That weight is about 14lbs per square inch or 1 atmosphere.
In water, about every 33 feet(10 meters) the water pressure pushing on your body goes up by 1 atmosphere
The titanic is settled at 3.8 km- the pressure is 390 times greater than at the surface.
You are holding a small paper Dixie cup and then slap your hands together- that is the implosion effect .
If the Titan started to buckle or leak- it’s over.
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