Book 2, Question 54
Why Do Our Ears Pop?
Your ears pop when the air pressure inside and outside your ear gets out of balance. When it opens, the air moves and, pop, your ears feel normal again. It is a clever little system for keeping your hearing comfortable.
From the book
Page from A Million Whys Book 2
More fun facts
- Your ears have small tubes called Eustachian tubes that connect your middle ears to the back of your throat.
- These tubes even out air pressure and help drain fluid from your ears.
- On a plane, air trapped in the tube pushes on your eardrum until it is suddenly let out. Pop!
- A pilot's tips for popping your ears: take small sips of water, suck on a hard candy, or yawn.
- NASA scientists flying research planes feel their ears pop when they open a special tube in the plane's floor.
- Only about 1 percent of adults have a problem where these tubes stay blocked.
Sources: Cleveland Clinic, BBC, NASA Science
Questions kids ask
How can I help my ears pop on a plane?
Try small sips of water, sucking on a hard candy, or yawning.