http://www.ck12.org Chapter 4. Motion and Forces
FIGURE 4.58
- Water pressure makes it difficult to explore the deep ocean. The pressure is too great for divers unless they
travel in pressure-resistant deep-sea vehicles. Even scuba divers have to take time to adjust to the changes in
pressure as they return to the surface.
Vocabulary
- pressure: Result of force acting on a given area.
Explore More
Read about Challenger Deep in the article at the following URL. Watch the video about James Cameron’s solo dive
to the Challenger Deep in the Deepsea Challenger. Also take the virtual video tour of the Marianas Trench. Then
answer the questions below.
http://www.extremescience.com/deepest-ocean.htm
- Compare the depth of the ocean at the bottom of the Marianas Trench to the height of Mount Everest.
- How deep below the surface of the ocean did James Cameron travel in Deepsea Challenger? How great was
the water pressure there? - How and why did the size of Deepsea Challenger change as it went very deep below the ocean’s surface?
- How can you feel water pressure changes with depth in a swimming pool?
Review
- Describe how water pressure in the ocean changes as depth increases.
- Why does water pressure change with depth in this way?
- How can divers safely travel deep below the surface of the ocean to explore the ocean floor?
- Why do scuba divers have to return to the surface slowly if they go deeper than 40 meters below the surface?