Highest one could suck a drink up this straw?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the theoretical limits of how high a drink can be sucked up a straw, considering factors like lung capacity and atmospheric pressure. It explores both the physiological aspects of human lungs and the physical principles governing fluid dynamics in a straw.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that human lungs can develop a vacuum of about 20 inH2O, which limits the depth from which one can breathe through a straw to about 20 inches underwater.
  • Others mention that while the diaphragm has limited ability to create vacuum pressure, additional suction can be generated with the mouth.
  • A participant notes that atmospheric pressure can support a column of mercury about 76 cm long, suggesting that for a water-based drink, the maximum height achievable would be approximately 10.3 meters.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the mechanics of suction and the implications of atmospheric pressure, indicating that multiple competing views remain without a consensus on the highest achievable height for sucking a drink up a straw.

Contextual Notes

The discussion does not resolve the assumptions regarding the strength of the lungs or the effects of varying atmospheric conditions on the height of the liquid column.

ricky882
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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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