Scuba Diving Physics and Physiology of Diving 2

Question 1

Which physiological condition is caused by breathing too little — allowing CO2 to build up in the body?

Accepted Answer

Hypercapnia

Answer

Hypoxia

Answer

Hyperoxia

Answer

Hyperthermia

Question 2

Why is hyperventilating before a breath-hold dive particularly dangerous?

Accepted Answer

It lowers CO2 without raising O2, masking the urge to breathe until hypoxic blackout

Answer

It causes nitrogen to dissolve faster into the blood

Answer

It increases buoyancy making descent difficult

Answer

It raises heart rate to dangerous levels

Question 3

Dalton's Law of partial pressures states that the total pressure of a gas mixture equals:

Accepted Answer

The sum of the partial pressures of each individual gas

Answer

The product of all individual gas pressures

Answer

The pressure of the most abundant gas only

Answer

The average pressure of all gases divided by depth

Question 4

What is barotrauma in the context of scuba diving?

Accepted Answer

Tissue damage caused by a failure to equalize pressure differences across body air spaces

Answer

Skin burns from prolonged wetsuit pressure

Answer

Muscle cramps from cold water exposure

Answer

Vision loss from nitrogen narcosis at depth

Question 5

How does water temperature affect a scuba diver's air consumption rate?

Accepted Answer

Cold water increases air consumption because the body works harder to stay warm

Answer

Cold water decreases air consumption by slowing metabolism

Answer

Water temperature has no measurable effect on air consumption

Answer

Warm water increases air consumption due to faster breathing

Question 6

An arterial gas embolism (AGE) is most commonly caused by which diving action?

Accepted Answer

Holding the breath while ascending

Answer

Descending too quickly without equalizing

Answer

Breathing nitrox at recreational depths

Answer

Skipping the safety stop on a shallow dive

Question 7

Buoyancy in water is governed by Archimedes' Principle. A diver achieves neutral buoyancy when:

Accepted Answer

The weight of water displaced equals the total weight of the diver and equipment

Answer

The volume of water displaced exceeds the diver's body volume

Answer

The diver's lung volume is at its maximum capacity

Answer

The BCD is fully inflated