A Wonderleaf question
Why do ears pop on airplanes?
a real page from the book
Ears pop on airplanes because air pressure changes faster than the air behind your eardrum can adjust. A small passage called the Eustachian tube opens when you swallow or yawn, letting air move until both sides match again.
During takeoff, outside pressure drops; during landing, it rises. Either change can bend the eardrum a little, making ears feel plugged. The pop is the moment the pressure evens out and the eardrum can sit comfortably again.
Wonder words
- pressure
- eardrum
- tube
- altitude
Try it out
Practice swallowing, yawning, and chewing pretend gum, then notice which motion makes your ears feel most open.
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