Test your knowledge and understanding of diving related science

1. There are several Gas Laws which have diving applications. Amongst these are Boyle's Law, Charles' Law, Dalton's Law and Henry's Law. Can you match these laws to the definitions below in the order 1,2,3,4?

 

1. In a mixture of gases the pressure exerted by one of the gases is the same as it would exert if it alone occupied the same volume.

2. For a fixed mass of gas at constant pressure the volume is directly proportional to the temperature.

3. For a fixed mass of gas at constant temperature the pressure is inversely proportional to the volume.

4. At constant temperature, the amount of gas which dissolves in a liquid with which it is in contact is proportional to the partial pressure of that gas.

 

A -    Henry's Law,    Charles' Law,    Boyle's Law,    Dalton's Law

B -    Dalton's Law,   Boyle's Law,    Henry's Law,    Charles' Law

C -    Dalton's Law,    Charles' Law,    Boyle's Law,    Henry's Law

D -    Charles' Law,    Boyle's Law,    Dalton's Law,    Henry's Law

2. An inverted bucket full of air is taken to a depth of 20 metres from the surface. What is the absolute pressure at that depth and how will the volume of the air in the container have been changed? Is it

 

A - 3 bar pressure and volume reduced to a half

B - 3 bar pressure and volume reduced to a third

C - 2 bar pressure and volume reduced to a half

D - 2 bar pressure and volume reduced to a third

3. Four diving cylinders of different sizes have the pressure of their contents measured. The results are as given below. Put these cylinders in order of available air from most to least.

 

Cylinder A - a 7 litre cylinder charged to 232 bar

Cylinder B - a 12 litre cylinder charged to 135 bar

Cylinder C - a 10 litre cylinder charged to 175 bar

Cylinder D - a 15 litre cylinder charged to 115 bar

 

1 -  A,  C,  B,  D

2 -  D,  B,  C,  A

3 -  C,  D,  B,  A

4 -  C,  D,  A,  B

4. Calculate the partial pressure of nitrogen in each of the following breathing gases at the depth shown and then rank them in order from the highest partial pressure of nitrogen to the lowest partial pressure of nitrogen.

 

Gas A  -  Nitrox 28 at 21 metres

Gas B  -  Nitrox 32 at 26 metres

Gas C  -  Air (Nitrox 21) at 19 metres

Gas D  -  Nitrox 36 at 24 metres

 

1 -   D, B, A, C

2 -   B, C, A, D

3 -   B, D, A, C

4 -   C, A, D, B

5. There are a number of terms used to describe the various volumes and capacities of the human lungs during breathing. Some of these terms are Vital Capacity, Residual Volume, Total Capacity and Tidal Volume. Can you match these to the definitions given below in the order 1,2,3,4 ?

 

1 - the greatest amount of gas that the lungs can hold when fully expanded.

2 - the greatest amount of gas that can move in and out of the lungs in one breath.

3 - the amount of gas that remains in the lungs after fully breathing out.

4 - the amount of gas breathed in and out in normal breathing. 

 

A -   Total Capacity,  Vital Capacity,  Residual Volume,  Tidal Volume

B -   Vital Capacity,   Tidal Volume,  Total Capacity,  Residual Volume

C -   Total capacity,   Residual Volume,  Vital Capacity,  Tidal Volume

D -   Tidal Volume,   Total Capacity,   Residual Volume,   Vital capacity   

6. The purpose of breathing is to maintain the oxygen levels in the cells of the body. It is important to maintain a rate of breathing which meets the demands for oxygen. Irregular breathing can lead to problems such as Anoxia, Hypoxia, Hypercapnia and Hyperventilation. Match these terms to their definitions as in the order below.

 

1 - the absence of oxygen reaching the body tissues

2 - abnormally high levels of carbon dioxide in the blood

3 - very deep breathing leading to abnormally low levels of carbon dioxide in the blood

4 - insufficient levels of oxygen in the body tissues

 

A - Hypoxia,  Hyperventilation,  Hypercapnia,  Anoxia

B - Hypercapnia,  Anoxia,  Hyperventilation,  Hypoxia

C - Hyperventilation,  Hypoxia,   Anoxia,  Hypercapnia 

D - Anoxia,  Hypercapnia,  Hyperventilation,  Hypoxia

7. Some of the gases that we breathe can have harmful side effects under abnormal conditions or if our breathing gas becomes contaminated. Common gas toxic effects are Carbon Dioxide poisoning, Carbon Monoxide poisoning, Oxygen Toxicity, Nitrogen Narcosis. Can you match these to the range of possible symptoms for each below in the order shown 1,2,3,4.

 

1 - Dizziness, Excessive fatigue, Nausea, Rapid Breathing, Flushing, Headache

2 - Headache, Nausea, Fatigue, Confusion, Breathlessness, Cherry red lips & nail beds

3 - Concentration difficulties, disorientation, short term memory loss, anxiety, euphoria

4 - Sight and Hearing disturbances, Muscular twitching, Convulsions

 

A - Carbon Monoxide poisoning , Carbon Dioxide poisoning , Oxygen Toxicity, Nitrogen Narcosis

B - Carbon Dioxide poisoning, Carbon Monoxide poisoning, Nitrogen Narcosis, Oxygen Toxicity

C - Oxygen Toxicity, Nitrogen Narcosis, Carbon Dioxide poisoning, Carbon Monoxide poisoning

D - Carbon Monoxide poisoning, Oxygen Toxicity, Carbon Dioxide poisoning, Nitrogen Narcosis

8. Can you name the parts of the Circulatory System as labelled on the diagram in the order 1,2,3,4?

 

A - Pulmonary Artery,  Right Ventricle,  Left Ventricle,  Pulmonary Vein

B - Pulmonary Vein,  Left Ventricle,  Right Ventricle,  Pulmonary Artery

C - Right Ventricle,  Pulmonary Artery,  Pulmonary Vein,  Left Ventricle

D - Left Ventricle,  Pulmonary Vein,  Pulmonary Artery,  Right Ventricle

9. Can you name the chemical found in red blood cells and is used to transport oxygen?

is it

 

A - Oxyhaemoglobin

B - Carboxyhaemoglobin

C - Haemocyanin

D - Haemoglobin

10. The pictures illustrate what happens to light as it travels down through the water column. Colours become lost, contrast is reduced, objects apparently change in size and distance, and it becomes darker with depth. These effects are caused by Reflection, Refraction, Diffusion and Absorption. Can you recall what these mean? Match the terms to their meanings in the order below.

 

1 - light rays are bent as they move from air into water and from water into air.

2 - light rays are scattered in different directions as they move through the water.

3 - light rays of different colours are converted to heat; colours fade with depth.

4 - light rays are bounced back off the water surface and do not penetrate the water.

 

A - Diffusion,   Absorption,   Refraction,   Reflection

B - Refraction,   Diffusion,   Absorption,   Reflection

C - Refraction,   Reflection,   Diffusion,   Absorption

D - Diffusion,  Reflection,   Absorption,   Refraction

11. One of the effects of water on light rays is shown in the picture. As a result of this effect objects can appear to have changed in their size and in their distance from the diver. Can you say what those changes are? Is the object..

 

A -  33% smaller and 25% further away

B -  25% smaller and 33% further away

C -  25% larger and 33% closer

D -  33% larger and 25% closer

12. Met Office meteorologists tell us that the weather of the UK is affected by six different Air Masses. Five of these are the Polar Continental, Tropical Continental, Arctic Maritime, Polar Maritime and Tropical Maritime air masses. Depending on where these air masses originate from (as indicated on the map) the weather that they bring can be a combination of either wetter or dryer and warmer or cooler. Can you name these air masses in the number order shown? Is it...

A - Polar Maritime, Arctic Maritime, Tropical Continental, Tropical Maritime, Polar Continental

B - Arctic Maritime, Polar Maritime, Polar Continental, Tropical Maritime, Tropical Continental

C - Polar Continental, Arctic Maritime, Polar Maritime, Tropical Continental, Tropical Maritime

D - Arctic Maritime, Polar Maritime, Polar Continental, Tropical Continental, Tropical Maritime

E - Polar Maritime, Polar Continental, Tropical Continental, Tropical Maritime, Arctic Maritime

13. The diagram shows a Synoptic Chart which can be used to find out what the weather is like. Synoptic charts have many symbols representing different features. Five such features are Warm Front, Cold Front, Depression, Anti-Cyclone and Isobar. Can you match these features to the labels in the numbered order. Is it..

 

A - Isobar, Depression, Warm Front, Cold Front, Depression

B - Depression, Isobar, Cold Front, Warm Front, Anticyclone

C - Anticyclone, Depression, Warm front, Cold Front, Isobar

D - Depression, Anticyclone, Warm Front, Cold Front, Isobar

E - Anticyclone, Depression, Isobar, Cold Front, Warm Front,

14. The tides are controlled by the relative positions of the Sun, Moon and Earth. In some positions the resulting tides will be Spring Tides and in other positions the tides will be Neap Tides. Can you work out which of the diagrams shown show the relative positions for Springs or Neap Tides in the numbered order?