Answer to Question #307509 in General Chemistry for Rush A

Question

Which gas law explains why lungs expand as they fill with air? Prove your answer in 5 sentences.

Answer 1

PV = nRT. The lungs first expand due to the action of the diaphragm. This reduces the internal pressure slightly which causes the external air (at constant pressure) to push air into the lungs. Eventually the lung pressure and the external pressure are roughly the same until exhalation starts. All physics ideas have ultimately to be proved by experiment so I suggest that you buy a compact pressure sensor, insert this down into your lung (under medical supervision) and monitor the air pressure as you are breathing.