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ninja1327 t1_j201zsg wrote

What would happen to a human if they were placed under a giant plunger (the kind you use in a toliet or sink) and plunged? Would the person rip apart?

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UEMcGill t1_j20e69q wrote

Given a few base assumptions, and using PV=nRT the most likely scenario is minor to major bends, maybe ruptured ear drums and things from rapid pressure drop.

The subject chamber couldn't develop a full vacuum, but a ratio of chamber to plunger volume. The volume would change the temp would drop a little and the pressure would drop a lot. Reverse it and pressure and temp go up. But if the pressure drop was high enough the nitrogen in solution in ylur blood would come out but the pressure rise again wouldn't be enough to make go back in solution.

The bends are painful and starts in places like the joints but can mean death if severe enough.

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SpellingIsAhful t1_j208x5e wrote

Fully depends on what medium they're in and if a part of you is stuck. Generally it wouldn't be ripped apart though, you would be squished when the plunger pushed down.

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ninja1327 t1_j209x44 wrote

Let's say the scenario is this:

  1. When fully pushed down, there is still room for a human to stand/sit so no way the person would get squashed.

  2. No part is stuck and this is a normal environment/medium (a lab in a building so to speak)

  3. What happens to the human body when it's pressed down and when it is pulled up? I know it has to do with negative/positive pressure but unsure what would realistically happen

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skywalkerze t1_j20vxtw wrote

Your description sounds like the only effect would be first higher then lower than normal pressure. Read on what happens to divers who go down or up too much too fast. It would be the same I guess.

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SpellingIsAhful t1_j231i4b wrote

The dive issue wouldn't really play in here though because nitrogen dissolves in the blood over time due to breathing pressurized air. If the pressure was enough of a difference you could be crushed, but just as importantly when the pressure disappears your lungs could explode I suppose if you didn't breathe out.

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