Final answer:
An inoperative oxygen compartment door pertains to an engineering issue that could affect oxygen supply from tanks in environments with insufficient oxygen. Tanks compress oxygen for storage and release it under normal pressure when needed, with about 20% of the atmosphere being oxygen essential for life.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding the oxygen compartment door issue involves a knowledge of engineering, particularly as it pertains to aircraft maintenance or similar fields. When dealing with an inoperative oxygen compartment door, it may impact the delivery of oxygen from a tank, especially in cases where the environment does not naturally provide enough breathable oxygen, as is the case in certain aviation or underwater scenarios.
Essentially, oxygen tanks are used to store a significant volume of oxygen under high pressure, which can then be released at a pressure suitable for human consumption. About 20% of the atmosphere is comprised of oxygen, which is essential for life. In an aircraft, such as the F-18C Hornet depicted in the provided image, a Liquid Oxygen (LOX) tank would be an example of such storage. For activities like hyperbaric therapy or decompression scenarios for Navy divers, an operational oxygen system is crucial for maintaining the required oxygen levels for the participants.