One of the more difficult concepts for students
to comprehend is "atmospheric pressure". A
"tool" that I have found to be helpful is a
segment from the movie "Total Recall",
starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. For the past
several years, all of the Earth Science
teachers here at Helena High School have
used the last 10 minutes (approximate) to let
students see what it might be like to be put out
onto the surface of Mars where the pressure
is significantly less than on our planet.
Although I don't know how realistic the scene
is, our students get a kick out it, and it
stimulates interest in atmospheric
pressure.For discussion . . .1. Ask the students to explain what caused the "facial bulging" shown in the movie. Gases in body cavities would have expanded because there was less atmospheric pressure pushing in on the surface of the body. This most certainly would have also resulted in "fluctuations of the anal sphincter".2. What effect would this experience have had on the gases dissolved in their blood? The blood gases would have probably come out of solution, forming bubbles. . . They would have experienced an extreme case of "the bends". |
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