When a scuba diver descends to greater depths, the water

Chapter 14, Problem 14.7

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When a scuba diver descends to greater depths, the water pressure increases. The air pressure inside the body cavities (e.g., lungs, sinuses) must be maintained at the same pressure as that of the surrounding water; otherwise the cavities would collapse. A special valve automatically adjusts the pressure of the air coming from the scuba tank to ensure that the air pressure equals the water pressure at all times. The scuba gear in Figure 14.7a consists of a 0.0150-m3 tank filled with compressed air at an absolute pressure of 2.02 107 Pa. Assume that the diver consumes air at the rate of 0.0300 m3 per minute and that the temperature of the air does not change as the diver goes deeper into the water. How long (in minutes) can a diver stay under water at a depth of 10.0 m? Take the density of seawater to be 1025 kg/m3 .