Law of Laplace
| Definition |
|---|
- The Law of Laplace is a physical law discovered by the great French mathematician Piere-Simon Laplace (and others) which describes the pressure-volume relationships of spheres. It is used to understand physiological features of both the heart and alveoli thus justifying its categorization as a basic concept.
| Law of Laplace |
|---|
- Pressure = (2 x Thickness x Tension)/Radius
- Where
- Pressure = The pressure inside the sphere
- Thickness = Thickness of the sphere's wall
- Tension = Tension within the sphere's wall
| Concepts |
|---|
- The Law of Laplace essentially states that the tension within the wall of a sphere filled to a particular pressure depends on the thickness of the sphere. Consequently, even at a constant pressure, the tension within a filled sphere can be decreased simply by increasing the thickness of the sphere's wall.