Highest one could suck a drink up this straw?

[ricky882]

Main Question or Discussion Point

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

 

[Andy Resnick]

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.

 

[physixlover]

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
thanks

 

[Dadface]

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.