The Byford Dolphin Incident: How do you get sucked into something so strongly by a change of air from 9 atmospheres of pressure to 1?

Question

Please somebody know what I’m talking about. If not, then please see the diving bell incident in the link provided below. I just don’t see how you are killed by air.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byford_Dolphin

In: Physics

Answer 1

The best way to think of it is to think of the “weight” of air. 1 atm is how heavy all the air molecules are above you at sea level. It doesn’t seem like a lot but it is actually just under 15 lbs. So multiply that by 9 and you get 135 lbs. That’s 135lbs of force being applied to every square inch of a person.

This is essentially the same as an explosion. Which is why these events are known as explosive decompression.