Highest one could suck a drink up this straw?

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Human lungs can create a vacuum of approximately 20 inH2O, which limits the ability to suck liquid through a straw to a maximum depth of about 20 inches underwater. The atmospheric pressure plays a crucial role in this process, as it pushes the liquid up the straw. At sea level, atmospheric pressure can support a column of mercury about 76 cm long, translating to a maximum height of about 10.3 meters for a water-based drink. While superhuman lungs might enhance suction capabilities, the diaphragm's limitations still apply. Ultimately, the height a drink can be sucked up a straw is fundamentally governed by atmospheric pressure.
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given a very long straw, and very strong lungs(superhuman ones), what is the highest one could suck a drink up this straw?
 
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Human lungs can develop a vacuum of about 20 inH2O, IIRC. (that means the absolute pressure is about 380 inH2O). that also means you can't be more than 20 inches underwater if you want to breathe through a straw.

It's possible to develop more suction with your mouth, but in terms of the diaphragm, the ability to develop vacuum pressure is very limited.
 


Andy Resnick said:
Human lungs can develop a vacuum of about 20 inH2O, IIRC. (that means the absolute pressure is about 380 inH2O). that also means you can't be more than 20 inches underwater if you want to breathe through a straw.

It's possible to develop more suction with your mouth, but in terms of the diaphragm, the ability to develop vacuum pressure is very limited.

Good explanation :smile:
thanks
 


ricky882 said:
given a very long straw, and very strong lungs(superhuman ones), what is the highest one could suck a drink up this straw?

It is the pressure of the atmosphere that pushes the drink up the straw.At sea level the average pressure of the atmosphere is such that it can support a column of mercury about 76 cm long.For a water based drink the greatest height would be about 10.3 metres.
 

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