If a diver's surface air consumption rate is 25 psi per minute, what would be the consumption rate at 66 feet of seawater?

If a diver's surface air consumption rate is 25 psi per minute, what would be the consumption rate at 66 feet of seawater?

• A. 8.3 psi per minute
• B. 5 psi per minute
• C. 10 psi per minute
• D. 12 psi per minute

Answer: (A)

To determine the consumption rate at 66 feet of seawater, it's essential to consider the effects of pressure on air consumption while diving. As a diver descends, the pressure increases, which means that the amount of air in the tank becomes denser. At sea level, the pressure is 1 atmosphere (atm), which is equivalent to approximately 14.7 psi. Every 33 feet of seawater adds about 1 atm of pressure. Thus, at 66 feet, the pressure would be about 3 atm (1 atm for surface pressure + 2 atm for the two additional increments of 33 feet). This total results in a pressure of approximately 3 times 14.7 psi, which equals about 44.1 psi. Since the surface air consumption rate is 25 psi per minute at 1 atm, when the pressure increases to 3 atm, the diver experiences a higher rate of consumption due to increased density of air. The surface air consumption rate adjusts proportionally to the pressure changes. To calculate the adjusted consumption rate: Divide the surface air consumption rate by the number of atm at that depth. In this case, you would take 25 psi and divide it by 3 (since it

To determine the consumption rate at 66 feet of seawater, it's essential to consider the effects of pressure on air consumption while diving. As a diver descends, the pressure increases, which means that the amount of air in the tank becomes denser.

At sea level, the pressure is 1 atmosphere (atm), which is equivalent to approximately 14.7 psi. Every 33 feet of seawater adds about 1 atm of pressure. Thus, at 66 feet, the pressure would be about 3 atm (1 atm for surface pressure + 2 atm for the two additional increments of 33 feet). This total results in a pressure of approximately 3 times 14.7 psi, which equals about 44.1 psi.

Since the surface air consumption rate is 25 psi per minute at 1 atm, when the pressure increases to 3 atm, the diver experiences a higher rate of consumption due to increased density of air. The surface air consumption rate adjusts proportionally to the pressure changes.

To calculate the adjusted consumption rate:

Divide the surface air consumption rate by the number of atm at that depth.

In this case, you would take 25 psi and divide it by 3 (since it