Ans for the Submarine Project Trip
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Most people have some sort of familiarity with submarine crafts; most of which are most likely related
to the navy. This is a very accurate depiction of submarines, as they are primarily used for this,
however, they are used in areas of scientific research as well.
A Submarine can float on water because the weight of the water displaced is equal to the weight of
the craft. The upward force that the water has on the vessel is known as they buoyant force. The key
to controlling a submarine’s diving and resurfacing, is to control the buoyancy.
Submarines are equipped with ballast tanks and trip tanks that can be filled with either water or air. To
have the submarine sitting on the surface, the ballast tanks must be empty; to descend, the air in the
tanks is replaced with water. The density of a submarine then becomes greater than the water and it
will submerge. There is a supply of compressed air on board that is used for both life support and to
fill the ballast tanks.
The speed of descent is additionally helped with a set of diving planes or “wings” on the top of the
submarine. The angle of the wings is controlled, thus influencing the angle of descent.
To keep the submarine level at any depth, the submarine maintains a balance of air and water in the
trip tanks, so that the overall density is equal to the surrounding water. The diving planes also help
keep the depth of the submarine constant. The rudder on the back of the craft helps steer it.
Power Supply
Nuclear submarines use nuclear reactors, steam turbines, and reduction gearing to drive the main
propeller shaft. Electric power is also used to operate equipment, this is made from diesel engines
and nuclear reactors. Batteries may also be used for electric power, and they may be charged using
either a diesel engine or a nuclear reactor.
Nuclear submarines have an advantage to diesel submarines because they can stay submerged for
weeks at a time. Diesel engines can only be used while the submarine is surfaced, or at least using a
snorkel, to recharge the batteries. Once the batteries are charged, the submarine can descend using
electric power. Because nuclear fuel lasts much longer than diesel fuel, nuclear submarines can stay
under water or at sea for long periods of time, without having to port to refuel.
Navigation
Submarines navigate using global positioning system while on the surface, however, this will not work
while the vessel is submerged. Underwater, the crafts use inertial guidance systems that keep track of
the ship’s motion from a fixed starting point using gyroscopes. These systems are very complex and
difficult to use, and very accurate at the same time. They are accurate up to 150 hours at a time.
To locate targets, submarines use passive sonar. This works by emitting sound waves through water
and allowing the sound waves to reflect off the target and return; by knowing the speed of sound inwater and the time it took for the sound wave to travel back, submarines can calculate the distance to
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the target. This is the same technique that bats, dolphins, and whales use. These systems can also
help recalibrate the inertial guidance systems.
Air Supply
Oxygen is supplied from either compressed tanks, or an oxygen generator, which works by
electrolysis. Oxygen can either be released in periods throughout the day, or whenever a computer
senses the oxygen level is low. Carbon Dioxide must be removed from the air as well. This can be
done chemically using soda lime in “scrubbers”. The carbon dioxide is trapped and removed from the
air in chemical reactions. Moisture is removed by a dehumidifier, this prevents condensation buildup
within the ship.
Water Supply
Most submarines can take in seawater and turn it into fresh water through a distillation process. The
distillation plant on submarines can produce 10,000 to 40,000 gallons of water per day. The water is
mainly used for cooling equipment and for the crews’ personal use.