A Wonderleaf question
Why do ears pop on airplanes?
a real page from the book
Ears pop on airplanes because the air pressure outside your ear changes during takeoff and landing. A little space behind the eardrum needs to match that pressure. When it does not, the eardrum is tugged slightly, and your ear feels blocked.
Swallowing, yawning, or chewing opens a narrow passage from the middle ear to the throat. Air moves through, the pressure balances, and the eardrum settles back where it belongs. That quick adjustment is the pop you hear.
Wonder words
- pressure
- eardrum
- tube
- middle
Try it out
During a pretend airplane descent, try swallowing, yawning, and sipping water to notice how your ears change.
Read the whole picture book
Watercolour scenes, straight answers, about three minutes cover to cover.
Open the picture bookKeep wondering
And the next question?
Ask anything — Wonderleaf writes and illustrates a picture book for it. That's the whole idea.
Ask your own question