During a plane flight, a passenger experiences ear pain due toa head cold that has clogged his Eustachian tubes. Assumingthe pressure in his tubes remained at 1.00 atm (from sea level) andthe cabin pressure is maintained at 0.900 atm, determine the airpressure force (including its direction) on one eardrum, assuming it has a diameter of 0.800 cm.

Question

d=0.008cm r=0.004cm
p tubes= 1.00 atm
p cabin= 0.900 atm

Answer 1

force=pressure difference*Area
area= PI*.004^2 (note: change pressures to Pascals (N/m^2).