Based on Poiseuille's Law, the work of breathing increases by factor of ____ when the radius (r) of the airway is reduced by half its original size.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Poiseuille's Law states that the flow rate of a fluid through a cylindrical tube is directly proportional to the fourth power of the radius of the tube. Therefore, if the radius is reduced by half, the work of breathing would increase by (1/2)^4 = 1/16 of its original value, meaning it requires 16 times more effort or work to breathe.

Based on Poiseuille's Law, the Work of Breathing Increases by Factor