Page 115 - Inventions - A Visual Encyclopedia (DK - Smithsonian)
P. 115
Tube delivers oxygen Divers wearing
from the cylinder to modern scuba gear
the diver’s mouthpiece. DIVING AND RISING
When the ballast Air is pumped
tank is full of air, the back in to make the
submarine stays afloat. submarine rise again.
Oxygen
cylinder
Opening the vents allows GET MOVING
water to enter, forcing out
BREATHING UNDERWATER the air. The submarine
starts to sink. When the tank is filled with
Although the Italian inventor Leonardo water, the submarine sinks
da Vinci designed a diving suit about 500 to its maximum depth.
years ago, it was not until 1943 that the first
All submarines have a double skin. In between the inner skin and
practical diving system became a reality.
the outer skin are large spaces, called ballast tanks, that can hold
The Frenchmen Jacques Cousteau and Émile
water. To dive, the submarine pumps water in to flood these tanks,
Gagnan invented the self-contained underwater
making the vessel heavy enough to sink. To resurface, the submarine
breathing apparatus (SCUBA), which allowed pumps the water out to make it lighter.
divers to swim underwater while breathing
oxygen from cylinders strapped to their backs.
SUBMARINES TODAY
A small platform called
a bridge is used for Built for stealth, most modern submarines are used as
observation when the machines of war. Navies today have both diesel-electric
submarine has surfaced.
(below) as well as nuclear-powered submarines. The
nuclear-powered vessels can stay at sea for months
without needing to resurface, and can travel around the
world without needing to refuel. The nuclear reactors
driving these submarines produce an unlimited amount
of power without the need for oxygen. The only reasons
a submarine may need to return to the surface are to
Submarine on a naval replenish food and to remove waste.
exercise in Hawaii
US_112-113_Going_underwater_Main.indd 113 08/03/18 3:09 PM
