ERIC Number: EJ907347
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2010-Oct
Pages: 5
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-2158-0502
EISSN: N/A
Breathing Like a Fish
Katsioloudis, Petros J.
Technology and Engineering Teacher, v70 n2 p6-10 Oct 2010
Being able to dive and breathe underwater has been a challenge for thousands of years. In 1980, Fuji Systems of Tokyo developed a series of prototype gills for divers as a way of demonstrating just how good its membranes are. Even though gill technology has not yet reached the point where recipients can efficiently use implants to dive underwater, mechanical devices such as "rebreathers" are able to mimic the biological process. A rebreather is an electromechanical device that can provide breathing gas through infusion of oxygen and recycling of carbon dioxide through the use of a chemical scrubber. One of the most important components of the rebreather is the one-way valve located at each end of the tube to insure directional gas flow through the loop. The normal flow is clockwise, with the inhalation coming from the diver's left side and exhaling to the diver's right side so used gas does not mix with new. To best demonstrate how a one-way valve works, teachers can have their students build one. This activity is easy to correlate with the technological literacy standards created by the International Technology Education Association in 2000. (Contains 4 figures and 1 table.)
Descriptors: Technological Literacy, Technology Education, Water, Aquatic Sports, Design, Science and Society, Concept Formation, Student Projects, Problem Solving
International Technology and Engineering Educators Association. 1914 Association Drive Suite 201, Reston, VA 20191-1539. Tel: 703-860-2100; Fax: 703-860-0353; e-mail: itea@iteaconnect.org; Web site: http://www.iteaconnect.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: Teachers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A