Boyle's Law

One of the most fundamental pieces of knowledge you must equip yourself with before you start to scuba dive is to understand Boyle’s Law. This is an important rule to understand simply because chemistry of Boyle’s law is essential in your descent and ascent while diving. Without descent and ascent you would simply be snorkeling with a bunch of unnecessary equipment. Boyle’s law originated from Robert Boyle at the same time it was discovered by Edme Mariotte in the latter part of the 1600’s. Commonly known in the diving world as Boyle’s Law or Robert Boyle’s gas law it is also recognized as Mariotte’s or Boyle Marriotte’s Law.

No matter the title Boyle’s gas law is pv = k. The p stands for the pressure of gas, the v signifies the volume of gas and the k stands for a constant. It is important to remember that in this equation that it is not necessary to know the value of k to understand the relationship between the v (volume) and the p (pressure). What Boyle’s law demonstrates is that when the pressure is increased the volume decreases and when the volume is increased the pressure decreases. This is where Boyle’s law and breathing while underwater go hand in hand; it is how Boyle’s law works. Robert Boyle’s gas law demonstrates that when a diver ascends the pressure in the diver and equipment decreases and the volume then increases, as well as when a diver descends the opposite takes affect. The reason Boyle’s law is so important here is if the diver is not aware of how the physics work then it is possible to cause their own internal and painful injuries simply by not releasing air held in the lungs or equipment at the appropriate times. Boyle’s law and respiration are a combination of vital education when scuba diving because this is what will help you in monitoring your air supply and amounts, Boyle’s law, pressure and volume.

To better understand this law you can experiment with Boyle’s law labs by purchasing a Boyle’s law apparatus, this is a device that will show you the concept without having to experiment in the water while scuba diving as this could be very dangerous. This is just one of many different experiments to do with Boyle’s law. This law is also used in labs, experimentation and education with Boyle’s law and submarine pressures and volumes; this is done on a much larger scale. Boyle’s and Charles law’s are somewhat related in the pressure and volumes with the exception that Charles law factors in the relationship to temperature and Boyle’s law does not. However they are both essential to know and learn when taking on diving as a profession or recreational activity.