Drinking Water from the First Floor with a Long Straw

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the feasibility of drinking water from a glass located on the first floor while standing on the second floor using a long straw. Participants explore various methods and principles related to suction, pressure, and fluid dynamics, while considering the constraints of the problem.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that humans cannot generate the necessary pressure to drink water through a straw from the second floor.
  • One participant humorously proposes asking someone to bring the glass of water or walking down to get it.
  • Another participant discusses the concept of suction, stating that fluid is pushed up the straw by atmospheric pressure rather than being sucked.
  • A participant proposes conducting an experiment using a vacuum pump to create a low-pressure area at the end of the straw, noting that the effectiveness of the straw may depend on the altitude due to atmospheric pressure differences.
  • There is a mention of a related problem involving breathing through a snorkel while underwater, which some participants use to illustrate their points about pressure and suction.
  • One participant references an online source discussing suction through a straw, suggesting that it might be possible under certain conditions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally express skepticism about the ability to drink water from the first floor using a straw from the second floor, with multiple competing views on the mechanics of suction and pressure. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the feasibility of the task.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the limitations of human capability in generating pressure and the dependence on atmospheric conditions, but do not resolve the mathematical or physical implications of the problem.

jimlee4262
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You have a glass of water on the first floor. You are on the second floor with a very long straw. You put the straw in the water. How can you drink the water or get it to the second floor? (Without using anything except what is stated in the problem) How do you continuously drink it?
 
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jimlee4262 said:
You have a glass of water on the first floor. You are on the second floor with a very long straw. You put the straw in the water. How can you drink the water or get it to the second floor? (Without using anything except what is stated in the problem) How do you continuously drink it?

Well, other than sucking real hard, there is at least one other answer. Is this for homework or other schoolwork? What is the context of the question?
 
my teacher asked me if there was a possible way but I can't think of it. It's just for fun.
 
Humans are not capable of generating the required pressure for that with their mouths/lungs. Not sure what other methods there may be...
 
That's got to be one fine straw. Offer it to the first passing kid you see if he'll bring you the glass of water. Or you can always walk down stairs and get it yourself.
 
russ_watters said:
Humans are not capable of generating the required pressure for that with their mouths/lungs. Not sure what other methods there may be...

I only found one online reference of dubious source that placed suction through a straw, using mouth and tough, rather than lungs (1 psi), at 4 psi. I think it's doable, or nearly so.
 
russ_watters said:
Humans are not capable of generating the required pressure for that with their mouths/lungs. Not sure what other methods there may be...

Well, let's not give it away to the OP, but think about how else you get soda from the glass into your mouth with a straw...

jimlee -- any ideas?
 
No such thing as suction really....fluid is pushed up the straw by atmospheric pressure, you are simply creating a lower pressure area for the fluid to move to.

You could devise an experiment. Use a vacuum pump on the end of the straw, this will ensure the "ideal" low pressure area. The straw will also work better at sea level,(or lower), because of greatest pressure differential.

Sea level pressure is roughly 14.7psi, in an "ideal" situation, this is what you have to work with. Now the question becomes...

For a given diameter straw,(smaller diameter is better), how high will 14.7psi lift a water column?


A similar, but perhaps inverse, example of this problem is,

Could you sit on the bottom of a 12 foot deep swimming pool, and breathe through a 13 foot garden hose "snorkel"? The answer is no.
 
Last edited:
jmatejka said:
A similar, but perhaps inverse, example of this problem is,

Could you sit on the bottom of a 12 foot deep swimming pool, and breathe through a 13 foot garden hose "snorkel"? The answer is no.

I made the point above that oral suction is not the same as inhaling. It's not the inverse of this problem.
 
  • #10
Phrak said:
I only found one online reference of dubious source that placed suction through a straw, using mouth and tough, rather than lungs (1 psi), at 4 psi. I think it's doable, or nearly so.
Yeah, with those numbers it depends on the particulars of the problem. It is close.
 

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