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Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

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  • Forces of Flight
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Q:

Why doesn't air pressure squash you?

A:

Even though humans are under a lot of air pressure in Earth's atmosphere, they are not squashed because humans also exert pressure. Your body is made up of a lot of stuff including bones, blood, and muscles. All of that stuff is pushing "out", and has its own pressure, working against the pressure pushing "in" on you.

Ask an Explainer
Posted on May 24, 2016 at 10:56 am
Categories:
Gravity & Air
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