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

Hypercapnia is an excess of carbon dioxide in the blood, often caused by skip breathing or inadequate ventilation, and can cause headaches, confusion, and loss of consciousness.

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

Hyperventilation purges CO2 so the diver feels no urge to breathe, but O2 can deplete to unconscious levels before the CO2 trigger kicks in, causing shallow water blackout.

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

Dalton's Law states that total pressure is the sum of each gas's partial pressure, which is critical for calculating safe O2 and N2 exposures in mixed breathing gases.

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

Barotrauma occurs when a diver fails to equalize pressure in air spaces such as the ears or sinuses, causing pain, hemorrhage, or rupture of delicate tissues.

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 causes the body to expend more energy maintaining core temperature, increasing the metabolic demand and therefore breathing rate and air consumption.

Scuba Diving Practice Test

Scuba Diving Practice Test

Scuba Diving Physics and Physiology of Diving 2