Chemistry 12th Edition

Published by McGraw-Hill Education
ISBN 10: 0078021510
ISBN 13: 978-0-07802-151-0

Chapter 5 - Gases - Questions & Problems - Page 215: 5.4

Answer

The ears experience pain because of the change in pressure when the plane is changing altitudes. The pressure in the middle ear is different from that outside which results in pain. The middle ear is connected to the upper throat by the eustachian tube. When yawning or swallowing, the eustachian tube opens up and equalises the pressure inside the middle ear with that outside, which relieves pain.

Work Step by Step

The ears experience pain because of the change in pressure when the plane is changing altitudes. The pressure in the middle ear is different from that outside which results in pain. The middle ear is connected to the upper throat by the eustachian tube. When yawning or swallowing, the eustachian tube opens up and equalises the pressure inside the middle ear with that outside, which relieves pain.
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