an airplane typically cruises at an altitude of 30,000- 40,ooo feet.
What problems might be encountered in a suddenly depressurized aiplane cabin at 30,000 feet?
If there was a sudden drop in altitude, the is a possibility that the suitable breathing level would drop. For safety precautions, oxygen masks are always dripped above each seat in this sort of situation. In this particular situation, the passengers would have only a couple of seconds to grab their oxygen masks, before they couldn't breathe at all air present ar 30,000 feet is very low, and is not suitable for breathing. Also, passengers would probably get headaches and could even become unconscience for a short period of time (15 to 30 seconds).
What are some myths regarding sudden depressurization?
There is a myth that cabin depressurization will occur if a firearm is discharged one an airplane. It’s been commonly thought that bullets shot from within an airplane would drastically change the pressurization level within the airplane and thus cause it to crash or suffocate those within the plane. However, the truth is, one or several bullets hitting the cabin call would hardly affect the aircraft’s pressurization control.
Another common myth is that one open window on an airplane could cause a whole group of people to be sucked out. Though it is possible for a person to be sucked out of a plane through a window, this is very rare and a whole group of people being sucked out through a single window is simply impossible. This is a famous subject in many films.
Yet another myth is that one bullet shot can eventually cause a huge whole in an airplane and then lead to an explosion. This can be backed by Boyle's law, which shows us that the volume of the cabin space would increase as its pressure decreases. However, it is very unlikely that it could happen because planes can handle many punctures and still fly safely.
Another common myth is that one open window on an airplane could cause a whole group of people to be sucked out. Though it is possible for a person to be sucked out of a plane through a window, this is very rare and a whole group of people being sucked out through a single window is simply impossible. This is a famous subject in many films.
Yet another myth is that one bullet shot can eventually cause a huge whole in an airplane and then lead to an explosion. This can be backed by Boyle's law, which shows us that the volume of the cabin space would increase as its pressure decreases. However, it is very unlikely that it could happen because planes can handle many punctures and still fly safely.
what would actually happen if a window or emergrency door came off of a plane cruising at 30,000 feet?
If a window came off of a plane cruising at 30,000 feet, there would be enough air
quickly getting out of the plane to cause a complete depressurization. In this situation, someone could actually be sucked out through the open window frame. For this to happen, though, you would have to be small enough to fit through a tiny window. However if it were an emergency door that was taken off, anybody could be sucked out. Also if a depressurization such as this occurred so fast, some people wouldn't be able to get their masks on in time to keep them from passing out. Rapid decompression would also cause the cabin air to expand so fast that the cabin air would cool quickly and it would become very foggy inside the plane. This is a result of the sudden pressure and temperature change within the cabin. As in Gay-Lussac's law, since the pressure in the cabin dropped, the temperature too dropped.
quickly getting out of the plane to cause a complete depressurization. In this situation, someone could actually be sucked out through the open window frame. For this to happen, though, you would have to be small enough to fit through a tiny window. However if it were an emergency door that was taken off, anybody could be sucked out. Also if a depressurization such as this occurred so fast, some people wouldn't be able to get their masks on in time to keep them from passing out. Rapid decompression would also cause the cabin air to expand so fast that the cabin air would cool quickly and it would become very foggy inside the plane. This is a result of the sudden pressure and temperature change within the cabin. As in Gay-Lussac's law, since the pressure in the cabin dropped, the temperature too dropped.
Sources:
✿ http://usdailyreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/private-plane2.jpg
✿ http://rense.com/general67/cypriotplanecrashes.htm
✿ http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/jan2001/980973572.Ph.r.html
✿ http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/528265/posts