Message-Id: <v01540b0ab1482f799a00@[192.174.2.173]>
Date: Wed, 1 Apr 1998 09:56:32 -0800
To: pinhole@exploratorium.edu
From: pauld@exploratorium.edu (Paul Doherty)
Subject: Re: Air pressure
Geoff
Great question.
Of course you can feel the pressure change if you go to altitude fast
enough, or come down.
The air in your middle ear will change volume and create pressures which
trigger motion and pain nerve firings.
You cannot even feel pressure change when you put your hand into a tank of
water. The pressure is uniform and our bodies are best at detecting changes
in spacial distribution of pressure (or even temporal changes). However if
you wear a playtex living glove and put it into a tank of water you can
feel the pressure as the glove pushes hairs into your skin.
Paul D