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Quiz about The Human Body in the Vacuum of Space
Quiz about The Human Body in the Vacuum of Space

The Human Body in the Vacuum of Space Quiz


Ever wonder what would happen if you were in a spacecraft just minding your own business and all of a sudden the hatch blew open and you weren't wearing a spacesuit? It's not a subject most people worry about on a daily basis.

A multiple-choice quiz by mcdubb. Estimated time: 6 mins.
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Author
mcdubb
Time
6 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
298,305
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Tough
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
1568
Awards
Top 20% Quiz
Last 3 plays: Guest 174 (5/10), sally0malley (1/10), Guest 81 (7/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. If exposed to the vacuum of space, how long will it take before the human body explodes? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. One common misconception is that when a person is exposed to the vacuum of space, their blood will instantly boil. However, localized vapor pockets will form in the blood and tissue, and oxygen and other gasses will flow out of the lungs through the mouth and nose. What is this condition called? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. If exposed to the vacuum of space, how long can a person generally maintain consciousness? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. While it is one of a person's lesser concerns when exposed suddenly to vacuum, the formation of gas bubbles in ones bloodstream can cause decompression sickness, or the bends. Which of these is the more serious potential result of decompression sickness? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. A common misconception is that when a person is exposed to the vacuum of space, their entire body will instantly freeze. This is not true. However, that person may start to feel very cold before consciousness is lost. Which of these is NOT a reason why a person would feel cold in space? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. What would be the impact to the muscle tissue if a person is exposed to the vacuum of space? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. What would be the effect to a person's visual system after exposure to the vacuum of space? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. If a person was about to be thrust into the vacuum of space, which of these actions would give that person the greatest chances of survival? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. How long is it generally believed a person could survive in the vacuum of space and still maintain the possibility of being revived? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. When exposed to space, the lungs collapse. What is the scientific name of this condition? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Mar 23 2024 : Guest 174: 5/10
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Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. If exposed to the vacuum of space, how long will it take before the human body explodes?

Answer: The body will not explode

The body is fairly elastic, and bones are tough. The skin has the ability to stretch enough to contain the increase in pressure difference from standard atmosphere to vacuum. Although if not wearing a pressure suit, the body may puff out to twice its normal size.

In 1960, a man named Joe Kittinger made a record breaking skydive from 100,000 feet while wearing a pressure suit. His right glove sprung a leak, and his hand swelled to twice its normal size, and circulation stopped within the appendage. Within a few hours of landing on the ground, his hand returned to its normal size with no damage done.
2. One common misconception is that when a person is exposed to the vacuum of space, their blood will instantly boil. However, localized vapor pockets will form in the blood and tissue, and oxygen and other gasses will flow out of the lungs through the mouth and nose. What is this condition called?

Answer: Ebullism

A person's arteries are generally strong enough to maintain their pressure below the boiling point of blood while exposed to vacuum. However, when ebullism occurs, oxygen from the blood will start to flow out of the mouth and lungs, and drop the internal blood pressure to below its boiling point. Before the blood completely boils, the heart will stop beating due to lack of oxygen in the blood.

This will occur over several minutes rather than instantaneously.
3. If exposed to the vacuum of space, how long can a person generally maintain consciousness?

Answer: 10-15 seconds

It generally takes 10-15 seconds for oxygen deprived blood to reach the brain. At that point, a person would pass out from hypoxia. In 1965, a NASA technician was accidentally exposed to vacuum in a test chamber. He maintained consciousness for about 15 seconds before hypoxia set in. Pressurization was regained in 90 seconds, and that man survived.
4. While it is one of a person's lesser concerns when exposed suddenly to vacuum, the formation of gas bubbles in ones bloodstream can cause decompression sickness, or the bends. Which of these is the more serious potential result of decompression sickness?

Answer: A gas bubble being lodged in the heart, essentially causing hydraulic lock

Decompression sickness is a problem with divers, but the same principles can be applied to space. When an astronaut goes on a spacewalk, their spacesuit is pressurized to around 3 psi of pure oxygen. Standard cabin pressure is 14.7 psi, the same as sea level. Careful measures are taken before any spacewalk to combat the bends.
5. A common misconception is that when a person is exposed to the vacuum of space, their entire body will instantly freeze. This is not true. However, that person may start to feel very cold before consciousness is lost. Which of these is NOT a reason why a person would feel cold in space?

Answer: The temperature of space is close to absolute zero

In Low Earth Orbit, the Space Shuttle and International Space Station are traveling through the Thermosphere. Even though it is essentially vacuum, the few molecules that exist at that altitude can reach temperatures of up to 2500°C. Also, without an insulating atmosphere for protection, objects can get very hot because of radiative heat transfer from the Sun and Earth.
6. What would be the impact to the muscle tissue if a person is exposed to the vacuum of space?

Answer: Total paralysis, followed by convulsions and a return to paralysis

This would be the result of vapor bubbles forming internal to the muscle tissue.
7. What would be the effect to a person's visual system after exposure to the vacuum of space?

Answer: Potential temporary blindness, with total recovery shortly after repressurization

This is in contrast to the portrayal of vacuum in movies such as Arnold Schwarzenegger's movie Total Recall where his character's eyeballs popped out of their sockets when exposed to vacuum.
8. If a person was about to be thrust into the vacuum of space, which of these actions would give that person the greatest chances of survival?

Answer: Exhaling as much of the air from the lungs as possible prior to depressurization

If air is prevented from escaping the lungs in a vacuum, the high pressure differencial can cause the alveoli in the lungs to burst, which would not be recoverable.
9. How long is it generally believed a person could survive in the vacuum of space and still maintain the possibility of being revived?

Answer: 90 seconds

This has been proven with both animal test subjects, and as a result of an accidental NASA vacuum chamber accident with a technician in 1965. The technician survived. Self-revitalization can only occur within the first 15 seconds though, since after that the person would lose consciousness.
10. When exposed to space, the lungs collapse. What is the scientific name of this condition?

Answer: Atelectasis

References:
http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/atmosphere/q0291.shtml
http://www.sff.net/people/geoffrey.landis/vacuum.html

Just remember, when in space, wear a spacesuit! (And maybe some sunscreen too.)

Dedicated to the crew of Soyuz 11, whose crew, Georgi Dobrovolski, Vladislav Volkov, and Viktor Patsayev perished when thier cabin depressurized upon entry June 30 1971. None survived.
Source: Author mcdubb

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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