Hypothetically, do you think DBZ's idea of training under a gravity chamber works?

Question

For those that don't know about DBZ's (Dragon Ball Z) gravity chamber, it's basically a room that have a machine that increases the gravity. And being in a room with more gravity, it's harder to move and hence you can build up more strength, stamina, etc.

There's also the following two questions:
1. Can our body even withstand several times normal gravity and hence the increased pressure acting on our body?
2. Would there be any air poisoning that scuba drivers are cautious of when at high water pressures?

Answer 1

Such a "gravity chamber" is impossible with the current physics except perhaps in a centrifuge.



Soldiers in the field routinely carry 150 pounds in their backpack plus armor plus weapons, so that is the equivalent of 2G. More than 2G could cause damage, and 2G itself has to be done gradually, ie, only reach that level when your body is already in excellent shape.



What does this have to do with scuba diving?

Answer 2

At very low levels, it might work, but you wouldn't get DBZ level benefits.



Most people have trouble walking at around twice Earth's gravity. At 10 times normal gravity, you're at risk of very serious injury. Go too far beyond that, and you're in trouble. I don't believe there's any risk of air poisoning at the gravities we can handle, but you wouldn't be able to train much either.



You wouldn't get the same benefits they see on DBZ either. Yes, you would be working under extra pressure and so, if you could handle it and worked at it long enough, you might get stronger and fitter, but there are limits as to how far you can take this. The downside is that under the extra strain you'd tire out faster, and increase the load too much and you just wouldn't be able to do anything.



You could think of it more or less like weight-lifting- train with heavier weights, then you get stronger, but there is a limit as to how far you can take it. And try and lift too much, and you wouldn't be able to do anything.



In the case of humans, even a slight increase is quite noticeable and you'd start to face extra strain. If you were already fairly fit, you'd be able to handle this, and maybe get a bit better, but again, there are limits. Try and do what Goku does, and well, you wouldn't last very long (actually that's true of most things about Goku, but anyway...)

Answer 3

If the gravity increased Slightly (and I mean slightly) we could probably be able to handle it with each new generation, but if we try to do that all of sudden just to train our organs would fail WAY before we could effectively do anything for ourselves. The body would just be working far too hard to sustain such an increase for very long, not to mention that our bodies can't even get much stronger than we can handle at normal gravity. Organs would fail and bones would most likely shatter by increasing the gravity 2 times higher than normal.

Answer 4

Yes it would work but you wouldn't be able to handle more than 2-3 times earths gravity even if you are in great shape. If you weigh 120 pounds on earth and you double the gravity now the muscles you have currently must hold up 240 pounds. Triple the gravity and it's 360 pounds. It would become a challenge to even move very quickly. There would be other negative effects on the body if this gravity is kept up long term.

Answer 5

Dragon Ball Z Chamber