Question

Question:You are a passenger on a spacecraft. For your survival and comfort, the interior contains air just like that at the surface of the Earth. The craft is coasting through a very empty region of space. That is, a nearly perfect vacuum exists just outside the wall. Suddenly, a meteoroid pokes a hole, about the size of a large coin, right through the wall next to your seat. (a) What happens? (b) Is there anything you can or should do about it?

Short answer

(a) The greater air pressure inside the space craft causes air to be expelled through the hole.

(b) Put your hand to cover the hole and slow down the leakage of cabin air.

Step-by-step solution

Step 1: Atmospheric pressure

The pressure exerted by atmosphere of a planet is called its atmospheric pressure. The air in the atmosphere has its own weight and due to this weight, the pressure on the surface is created:

1 atm = 1.01$\times$10⁵pa

Step 2(a): Find the answer for part (a)

In the initial condition, the air in the interior is at atmospheric pressure of the earth as 1 atm = 1.01$\times$10⁵pa , and outside is the vacuum with no air, so the greater air pressure inside the space craft causes air to be expelled through the hole.

Step 3(b): Find the answer for part (b)

Put your bag or wallet over the hole, or hand, anything that can sustain force under of 100 N is strong enough to cover the hole and slow down the leakage of cabin air.