When you flush a toilet on a submarine, the water and waste are taken down a chute, which can extend up to two or three decks below the toilet. The waste is then expelled through a specially designed outlet on the side of the submarine.
This outlet can be closed at any given time, allowing the waste to be discharged to the ocean depths. The water is held in a holding tank and then circulated back into the regular circulation of the submarine.
Submarine toilets have special engineering considerations. The pressure of the environment must stay consistent to keep the surrounding water from entering the toilets. To accomplish this, the toilets are usually built with a pressure-seal valve that prevents any water from entering, even when the waste is expelled from the submarine.
In more modern submarines, the toilets are also equipped with devices that sense the pressure changes and adjust the valve accordingly.
Another important factor when using a submarine toilet is making sure that it is kept clean. To prevent any contamination of the sea, the toilet wastewater is treated with disinfectants and biocides.
This is to make certain that the waste is not hazardous to ocean life. The water is then disheartened and reused to flush the toilet again.
So when you flush a toilet on a submarine, a lot is going on behind the scenes. The waste is expelled, the pressure is monitored, and the water is reused. All in all, these systems work together to ensure a sanitary environment both inside and outside of the submarine.
What does the toilet look like on a submarine?
The toilets on a submarine vary from model to model, but typically they are enclosed in a tiny booth for privacy. The toilet is generally a a biodegradable, chemical-free unit, since disposing of sewage into the ocean is illegal and can damage the environment.
It is equipped with a hand operated valve to flush the waste down a sinkhole in the submarine. Many modern submarines also have a vacuum toilet system. The physical design of the toilet is usually a small seat with insulation against the walls to keep the noise level down.
The toilet generally sits on a raised floor and also has handles on either side to help with balance in choppy waters. The toilet itself is usually plain plastic with no frills.
Can you wear deodorant on a submarine?
Yes, you can wear deodorant on a submarine. Personal hygiene is an important part of life at sea, as space onboard submarines can be pretty cramped. Submarines can be very stuffy and the bathrooms are usually very close to each other, so it is important to help keep odors down.
Most submarines have well-ventilated bathrooms, but if you have to share any common areas with your shipmates, it’s a good idea to wear deodorant. Additionally, you may need to wear deodorant to help minimize body odor if you have to work in confined spaces with personnel in your department.
Lastly, if you have to make any dives, wearing deodorant can help you stay fresh and feel cooler while in hotter conditions underwater.
Are submarines cold inside?
Yes, submarines can be cold inside, especially when they are underwater. Submarines are metal tubes that are enclosed and relatively hermetically sealed, meaning they have little insulation or protection from the surrounding water.
The temperature of the water can change drastically depending on the time of year and how deep the submarine is, but in general it is much colder than the air inside the submarine. A submerged submarine engineer has to wear heavy clothing and expend a lot of energy just to stay warm.
Additionally, the air inside a submarine is constantly recycled and air conditioning is usually used to manually cool the air down, bringing the overall temperature of the submarine to a much lower level than a room temperature.
Do subs have a smell?
Yes, subs can have a smell depending on their ingredients. If the sub contains fresh ingredients like onions, pickles, lettuce, tomatoes, and peppers, it can have an earthy smell that depends on the kind of produce used.
Also, condiments like mayonnaise, mustard, and ketchup can also add a faint smell to the sub. The bread used to wrap the sub can also add a slightly sweet scent, especially if it’s freshly baked. Ultimately, the smell of a sub depends mostly on the ingredients used and the freshness of the produce.
Do you feel rough seas on a submarine?
Yes, it is possible to feel rough seas on a submarine. Submarines are designed to be able to handle rough seas and to remain stable even in high swells. However, when submerged and encountering extreme conditions, the submarine may still experience slight movements and it is possible for crew members to feel the effects of the swells, especially if the seas are particularly rough.
Fortunately, due to the sturdy construction of submarines, the ship is able to tolerate most of the forces of the waves and remain afloat and stable despite any rough waters.
What does the bottom of the ocean smell like?
The bottom of the ocean has a unique and distinct smell due to the large amount of decaying organic matter, minerals and bacteria living in it. It is often described as a “musty” smell that is earthy, damp, and salty.
This smell is caused by the breakdown of the deep sea organisms with the high levels of sulfur and the release of various gases and other compounds. While many people describe the smell as unpleasant, it is actually quite interesting, as it is like no other smell found on land!.
Is it possible to survive a submarine sinking?
Yes, it is possible to survive a submarine sinking. Depending on the circumstances, the odds of survival typically depend on the amount of advance warning and preparation that was done, plus the nature of the incident, such as the depth the submarine was at and the rate of descent, as well as the type of vessel and the condition of the crew.
If a submarine is given sufficient warning of a sinking, it is possible to survive by taking measures such as launching escape pods or locking oneself in an escape tower or safe area, or even fully submerging an attached structure such as a lifeboat or inflatable tube.
If a submarine is already sinking rapidly, depending on the depth, it may be possible to move towards a light and air pocket to survive, though this is usually a low chance of success and requires a lot of strength and endurance.
Modern submarines also generally have devices and escape chambers that allow crewmembers to safely escape in the event of a sinking. If a submarine is equipped with such a device, and there is sufficient time for the crew to prepare, the chances of survival increase significantly.
All in all, surviving a submarine sinking is possible, but due to the complexities of the situation and the dangers of the ocean depths, it depends on the specific factors surrounding the incident.
How long can you survive in a submarine?
It depends on a variety of factors, such as the size of the submarine, its on-board supplies, and the type of mission being conducted. An average nuclear-powered submarine can typically stay submerged for up to three months, although there are some modifications that can extend this even longer.
How much food and other supplies, such as water and air, are also critical considerations. Most submarines are designed to carry enough food, water, and air to sustain the crew for at least 90 days, so this could be considered the minimum length of time to survive in a submarine.
However, many crew members have reported staying on board for up to six months without needing to reapply. The record for longest time in a submarine belongs to the Soviet Union’s T-209, who stayed submerged for an incredible 438 days!.
Do you have to decompress after being in a submarine?
Yes, it is necessary to decompress after being in a submarine. Submarines are pressurized vessels, meaning that the air pressure inside the submarine is greater than the air pressure outside. The pressure inside the submarine is increased when it dives, which allows the crew to stay below the water’s surface for longer periods of time.
When the submarine reaches the surface, however, the pressure inside the submarine must be relieved, so the crew has to “decompress” the submarine. This typically involves slowly allowing air to re-enter the vessel, one stage at a time, and monitoring the air pressure to make sure that it is at safe levels.
Decompressing a submarine can take 20 minutes or longer, depending on the depth it was submerged to.
Can a shark bite through a submarine?
No, a shark cannot bite through a submarine. Submarines are made with strong, thick steel that is very difficult to break. In addition, the interior mechanisms are protected by several layers of steel and insulation that would be too hard for a shark to penetrate.
Sharks have very sharp teeth, but their jaws cannot generate the type of biting force necessary to break through the hard exterior of a submarine. It is also unlikely a shark would even be able to find a submarine underwater due to their low visibility; submarines do have windows that can be used for observation, but sharks would not be able to find them without being led there by other mammals or specialized sonar technology.
Has a US submarine ever sunk?
Yes, a US submarine has sunk. The first US submarine sinkings occurred in the Spanish-American War of 1898, when the USS Holland sunk after striking a submerged object and the USS Scorpion was scuttled to prevent capture.
Since then, several US submarines have been lost in combat, notably during the battles of the Pacific War in World War II. In addition, several other US submarines have been lost due to accidents, collisions, and mechanical failures.
The most recent US submarine to be lost was the USS Thresher, which sank during a deep dive in 1963.
When did the last US submarine sink?
The last US submarine to sink was the USS Thresher (SSN-593) on April 10th, 1963. The Thresher was an attack submarine which had been launched in 1961, and was conducting a series of dive and pressure tests off the coast of New England when tragedy struck.
During these tests, the Thresher exceeded crush depth and imploded, sinking to the bottom of the ocean with 129 crew members and civilian technicians aboard, who all perished. All efforts to recover the sunken submarine, or any evidence of its crew, have failed.
The sinking of the Thresher remains an enduring tragedy of the US Navy, with investigation and debate still ongoing to this day.
What happens if you dont decompress underwater?
If you don’t decompress underwater, you run the risk of suffering from decompression sickness, or even death. Decompression sickness happens when nitrogen gas, which is absorbed into the blood and body tissues during a dive, is not released slowly and steadily as a diver ascends.
This can happen when divers try to rise too quickly, fail to adhere to their dive plan, or do not complete a decompression stop. Symptoms of decompression sickness can vary, but usually include skin rash, joint pain, joint swelling, paralysis, and even death.
For this reason, it is important that divers always follow a strict diving protocol, and decompress slowly and safely when underwater.
How long does it take to decompress after deep sea diving?
It depends on how deep the dive experience was and what decompression protocol the diver followed. Generally, divers need to decompress for at least an hour for dives that are less than 50 feet (15 meters) deep, and longer for dives greater than 50 feet.
After completing a dive, divers may also need to complete a safety stop at 15 feet (5 meters) for up to 5 minutes, depending on the dive profile.
In addition to this, recreational divers usually follow the “rule of thirds” when planning a dive and coming back to the surface. This means that they spend no more than a third of their bottom time at the deepest part of the dive and spend the other two-thirds in shallower depths before surfacing.
This helps to reduce nitrogen buildup in the body and minimize the amount of decompression time needed after diving.
Beyond the rule of thirds, decompression stops may be necessary depending on the dive environment, such as if the diver is in an overhead environment (e. g. inside a cave), if the dive exceeds a certain depth, if the diver stays underwater for an extended period of time, or if the diver ascends too quickly.
No matter the depth of the dive, all divers should always follow safe diving practices, listen to their body and give itself enough time to decompress properly when necessary.