[Phys-L] Re: ear pressure

[Dan Crowe <dcrowe@SOTC.ORG>]

My wife had a cold when we flew to San Francisco about 15 years ago.
Her ear drum burst as we descended to the airport.  She wears a hearing
aid now.

Daniel Crowe
Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics
Ardmore Regional Center
dcrowe@sotc.org

-----Original Message-----
From: Forum for Physics Educators [mailto:PHYS-L@list1.ucc.nau.edu] On
Behalf Of Brian Whatcott
Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2005 12:02 PM
To: PHYS-L@LISTS.NAU.EDU
Subject: Re: [PHYS-L] ear pressure

At 08:29 AM 2/1/2005, you wrote:
> I know that humans can withstand accelerations of around 7 g's before
> passing out, and that fighter pilots often wear G suits to handle up to
9
> g's or so. I'm now teaching fluids, and a student asked what pressures
the
> human body (specifically, the ear) can withstand. Does anyone know
these
> limits when going under water (ear drum pressing inward), or rising in
the
> atmosphere (ear drum pressing outward?


Folks who have flown commercial airlines with a head cold have
experience
of a pressure difference on the ear drum due to a blocked Eustachian
tube.
Airliners stabilize cabin altitude well under 10,000 ft, and at that
perceived altitude, the pain can be intense. This is less than 5 psi
  differential. It represents a comparable difference to diving to
  11 feet under water.



Brian Whatcott    Altus OK    Eureka!