The following video will introduce you to Boyle's Law and how it predicts how much a gas will be compressed depending on pressure. Be sure to watch what happens to the gas in the container as the diver descends and ascends. The captions in the video will tell you how this relates to Boyle's law.

1. What happened to the volume of gas in the container as the diver descended? Interactive popup. Assistance may be required.

   Check Your Answer

   The volume of gas decreased as the diver descended.
2. Why did this happen to the volume of the gas? Interactive popup. Assistance may be required.

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   According to Boyle's law, as pressure on the gas increases, the volume will decrease.
3. After the diver fills the container with air at the bottom of the dive, what happens to the gas as the diver ascends? Interactive popup. Assistance may be required.

   Check Your Answer

   The volume increases to the point that it escapes the container.
4. Now imagine what is happening with the diver. As the diver descends what happens to the volume of gas in his or her lungs? Interactive popup. Assistance may be required.

   Check Your Answer

   The volume of gas will decrease due to the increased pressure.

Now imagine a diver descending 20 meters (about 66 feet). The diver breathes air from the tank and holds her breath as she ascends. What would happen to the air in her lungs? What would happen to her lungs if she continues to hold her breath?

Watch the following video to find out what would happen to her lungs.

In the video the decrease in pressure around the balloon makes the gas in the balloon expand to the point that it pops. The same thing would happen to the diver if she holds her breath.