When you pull down a balloon in a model lung or similar setup, you increase the volume inside the container (like the chest cavity in a lung model). This increase in volume reduces the air pressure inside the container relative to the outside air pressure. As a result, air flows into the balloon (representing the lungs), causing it to inflate. This mimics the process of inhalation, where pulling down the diaphragm expands the chest cavity, lowers lung pressure, and draws air in
. In summary:
- Pulling down the balloon increases the internal volume.
- This lowers the pressure inside.
- Air moves in to equalize the pressure.
- The balloon inflates as a result.
This principle is the basis for how lungs work during breathing
