Atmosphere. The Earth is our home, which seems so calm and safe, in fact hides unimaginable forces. Above our heads stretches a layer of atmosphere, which not only provides the air we breathe, but also imposes on us endless, enormous pressure.
Did you know that the column of atmosphere, stretching all the way to space, presses you with a force equivalent to 750 kilograms? And yet we do not feel it.
How is this possible?
Atmosphere, the mysterious force.
Imagine if the entire atmosphere of the Earth were compressed and placed on a huge weighing scale, the indicators would stop at 5.1 billion billion tons.
Such a weight sounds incredible, but it is evenly distributed throughout the planet, not allowing anything to feel this incomprehensible heaviness.
Even iron tanks with thick steel walls sometimes succumb to atmospheric pressure, collapsing as if they were paper.
And yet, a person seems to withstand this pressure without any consequences. What is the secret of this endurance?
The atmosphere and the balance of the human body.
The human body has miraculously adapted to these conditions. Our internal pressure precisely equalizes the external atmospheric pressure, ensuring equilibrium.
We literally carry a small world of the atmosphere within us – the air in the lungs, circulatory system and tissues creates a counterpressure that prevents any discomfort.
It is similar to an iron tank, because as long as the pressure inside and outside is the same, nothing happens.
However, the balance can be upset.
For example, if you put a part of your body near the hose of a vacuum cleaner, you will feel how the skin is pulled inward, because the external atmospheric pressure suddenly becomes stronger than the pressure under the skin.
The same principle also works in airplanes. Sudden changes in altitude cause pressure changes that can feel like blocked ears or an uncomfortable pressure.
What happens in cosmos?
Cosmos, a place where there is no atmospheric pressure, reveals how important it is for our survival.
Without a spacesuit, a person would not reach the horrors depicted in Hollywood movies, where the body supposedly explodes (in the movie “Total Recall”) or the blood starts to boil.
Our skin is flexible and durable enough to maintain the integrity of the body in a vacuum. However, without atmospheric pressure, other problems arise.
Internal pressure in the body causes tissues to swell, while the lack of oxygen causes the heart and brain to gradually stop working.
Your circulatory system, accustomed to the flow of oxygen, simply “stops”.
Just 15 seconds in space without a spacesuit, and you would lose consciousness.
However, if there were a friendly Samaritan in space who could save you in a minute, you would survive – albeit with the unpleasant experience of ultraviolet burns and temporary swelling.
Space is cruel, but the human body proves its resilience even in this deadly environment.
The atmosphere, secrets in everyday life and beyond.
The atmosphere is one of the greatest paradoxical protective substances of our lives, one might even say the elixir of life – vast and powerful, yet so well adapted to our needs that its power seems imperceptible.
Only the changes in pressure or their complete absence in space remind us of how specially we are made.
Every time you climb a mountain, fly in an airplane or simply breathe deeply, be aware:
This invisible world of pressure is your ally, allowing you to live and discover new horizons – both on Earth and beyond.
Atmospheric pressure in action, stories from life.
The Earth’s atmosphere is not just an abstract force – its enormous influence is also observed in real events and experimental results.
To better understand how powerful atmospheric pressure is, let’s look at several vivid examples.
Stories from life, the collapsed railway tank.
One of the most famous examples of atmospheric pressure demonstrations is experienced with railway tanks.
When all the air inside the tank is sucked out, the pressure from the outside becomes disproportionate, and the tank literally collapses.
This effect has been filmed in various scientific experiments, for example, in the famous YouTube video, where the enormous atmospheric pressure deforms a tank as if it were made of thin foil, not steel.
Such a sight vividly demonstrates how powerful the force of the atmosphere is, even if we do not feel it in everyday life.
Stories from life, animal experiments at altitude.
At the end of the century, French physicist Paul Bert conducted experiments on animals to study the effects of pressure.
He observed that when animals were placed in a reduced pressure environment (which simulated high altitude), they became disoriented, unable to move, and even lost consciousness.
These experiments helped to understand, why people need oxygen equipment in high mountains or when flying at high altitude.
Stories from life, a man in a vacuum chamber.
In 2001, NASA tested spacesuits and the effects of vacuum conditions on the human body. An engineer’s accident became a valuable experience.
His spacesuit accidentally lost its tightness during an experiment, and he was exposed to a vacuum for a few seconds.
He later recalled that he immediately lost consciousness, but before that he felt his saliva begin to boil in his mouth due to the lack of pressure.
After an urgent rescue, the engineer fully recovered, proving that the human body can temporarily withstand a vacuum.
Stories from life, people and altitude sickness.
Anyone who has climbed high mountains knows that atmospheric pressure changes with altitude.
For example, on the summit of Everest (8848 meters), the atmospheric pressure is only about one third of what it is at sea level.
For this reason, climbers suffer from a lack of oxygen – headaches, nausea and weakness, which is called altitude sickness.
To reduce this effect, climbers use oxygen cylinders or gradually adapt to the decrease in pressure by climbing to the top slowly.
Stories from life, “Pressure release” in aviation.
Another dangerous example of atmospheric pressure is the loss of air tightness of an aircraft.
For example, in 2005, during a Helios Airways flight, a system failure caused the cabin to lose pressure, causing a lack of oxygen and loss of consciousness of the crew.
As a result, the plane crashed. This tragic event emphasizes how critical it is to maintain the correct pressure in enclosed spaces at altitude.
Space exploration experience.
In space, the lack of atmospheric pressure is extremely dangerous. In 1965, NASA conducted a test in which the dog Laika was sent into space to study the reaction of a living being to vacuum and lack of oxygen.
Although the animal survived, the experiment revealed many risks associated with a long stay outside the atmosphere. Such studies became the basis for the development of modern spacesuit technology.
Conclusions, the invisible power of the atmosphere.
The atmosphere is not only the basis of life, but also a manifestation of enormous power.
From collapsed tanks to the challenges of mountaineers at high altitude and the adventures of astronauts in vacuum – each of these examples reminds us.
Pressure is one of the most important forces in our everyday lives.
So the next time you look at the starry sky, remember that this invisible force not only presses you, but also protects and sustains life.
Good day!
