Pressure and Force

By Siyun Zou

Next semester I will be going on the Spring Study Abroad trip to Australia and I plan on doing some scuba diving there.  I want to figure out what my force and pressure would be when I am completely submerged underwater. In addition I would like to find what is the force exerted on the diver’s glass plate face mask.

Finding Pressure:

P=Po+ρgh

Initial Pressure of water= 1.013E5 Pa

Average height for beginners = 40ft = 12.19m

P= 1.013E5 + (1000kg/m³)*(9.8m/s²)*(12.19m)

P= 2.21E5 Pa

Force when submerged in water:

Vg(pf-po)=ma

F=ma

Weight approximately= 50kg

F= 50kg*9.8m/s²

F= 490N

Force on the diver’s glass plate face mask:

Diameter of glass plate= 16cm = 0.16m

P=F/A

F= P*A

F= 2.21E5 Pa * π*(0.16/2)²

F= 4400N