Why do the pipes burst in submarines rather than the hull crushing (in older designs anyway)?

Question

In movies, when submarines go too deep so the captain can "see what she can do," when they get too deep the pipes burst, lightbulbs blow etc. Why does the pressure manifest itself through pipes INSIDE the submarine rather than affecting the hull?

Answer 1

Hollywood calls it "artistic license".

Most action movies defy the laws of physics. There is even a web site devoted to documenting the flaws.


THE MOVIE PHYSICS RATING SYSTEM

In the name of physics decency, to protect the minds of children everywhere, so that they may grow up in a world where they know the difference between speed and velocity, we have taken the responsibility to rate movies for their portrayal of excessively bad physics. The system is as follows:

GP = Good physics in general

PGP = Pretty good physics (just enough flaws to be fun)

PGP-13 = Children under 13 might be tricked into thinking the physics were pretty good; parental guidance is suggested

RP = Retch

XP = Obviously physics from an unknown universe

NR = Unrated. When a movie is obviously a parody, fantasy, cartoon or is clearly based on a comic book it can't be rated but may still have some interesting physics worth discussing.

Answer 2

You answered your own question, "in the movies", it is easer to put a squib in a light bulb and pump water through a split pipe than crush even a mock up hull, plus, once the hull is crushed, the scene and probably the movie ends.

Also, if there is a leak in the hull, pressure will rise internally as the bottom of the sub floods and light bulbs in upper areas might implode. A pipe that runs to the out side of the hull has the pressure increase as the depth increases.

Answer 3

Because that was easier to stage. If the hull crushed the movie was over. Also did you ever notice when a pipe burst,they always found a valve to turn it off. At that pressure, water would cut a man in half.

Answer 4

It makes the movie more exciting.