Final answer:
This change in volume causes a intrapulmonary pressure.
b) Decrease
Step-by-step explanation:
When the volume within the lungs increases, the intrapulmonary pressure experiences a decrease. This change in volume occurs during inhalation when the diaphragm contracts and the intercostal muscles expand the chest cavity. Boyle's Law states that pressure is inversely proportional to volume (P ∝ 1/V). Therefore, as the volume increases during inhalation, the pressure decreases to maintain equilibrium.
Mathematically, according to Boyle's Law: P₁V₁ = P₂V₂, where P represents pressure and V represents volume. When the volume increases (V₂ > V₁), if the quantity of gas remains constant, the pressure (P₂) decreases to balance the equation. This reduction in intrapulmonary pressure facilitates air rushing into the lungs due to the pressure gradient from higher atmospheric pressure to lower intrapulmonary pressure.
Understanding this inverse relationship between volume and pressure helps comprehend how changes in lung volume lead to alterations in intrapulmonary pressure during breathing.