Solving Hookah Mystery: How Does Air Come Out When Sucking the Hose?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the mechanics of how air is expelled from a hookah when a user sucks on the hose, leading to bubbling in the water. Participants explore the principles of airflow, pressure changes, and the role of water in the smoking process.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the conservation of mass, asking where the extra air comes from when sucking on the hose and how its direction is reversed.
  • Another participant suggests that the mechanism is similar to a bong, where air from the room is drawn in to help burn the substance being smoked, resulting in visible smoke mixed with air.
  • Concerns are raised about the amount of water in the hookah, with a participant noting that too much water could lead to sucking water into the mouth.
  • Several participants discuss the layout of a hookah, indicating that the intake is below the water level and the output is above, which should theoretically allow smoke to rise through the pipe after being filtered by the water.
  • There are humorous exchanges regarding the appropriateness of the thread in the forum and light-hearted comments about smoking practices.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying levels of understanding about the mechanics of a hookah, with some agreeing on the basic layout and function while others remain uncertain about specific details. The discussion does not reach a consensus on the exact mechanics involved.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about their contributions and the relevance of the thread to the forum, indicating potential limitations in their understanding of the topic.

weiszed
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Alright, this is kind of odd but it's really bothering me so I have to know. My roommate continually smokes hookah and I can't figure out for the life of me why when he sucks on the hose, air comes OUT and bubbles into the water.

(1) Conservation of mass? Where's the extra air coming from?
(2) How is the extra air's direction being reversed?

To me, sucking on the hose would act just like a straw and water would go up into the mouth but it doesn't. Oh, and blowing into the hose causes the piece submerged in water to act as a suction device. Anyone familiar with how this works?
 
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If you put enough water, you will end up sucking the water.

I don't know how hookah's work, but I'm sure it's just like some sort of 'bong'.

I always thought those worked by just sucking in air (actual air passing from the room you're in) through the bowl.

The air helps burn the stuff being smoked and that's the smoke that you see mixed with the air already sucked in.

The water is there to serve as a reservoir to filter the smoke, and the sucking action is what is causing the water to bubble. The more water you put in there, the easier it will be to suck in water. The water will go up the tube since you have less open space in the bong itself and the water will be higher up.

(I'm not thread if this post goes here either, but I may be wrong.)
 
Last edited:
BryanP said:
(I'm not thread if this post goes here either, but I may be wrong.)

? :confused:
The general layout of a hookah is that the intake (bong) is below the water level, and the output (suction pipe) is above. The rest should be sealed. That way, the smoke gets filtered through the water, and then has no place to go except up the pipe.
(Not that I've ever encountered such devices other than theoretically... :rolleyes:)
 
Danger said:
? :confused:
The general layout of a hookah is that the intake (bong) is below the water level, and the output (suction pipe) is above. The rest should be sealed. That way, the smoke gets filtered through the water, and then has no place to go except up the pipe.
(Not that I've ever encountered such devices other than theoretically... :rolleyes:)


I meant, I'm not sure if this thread belonged in this forum.
 
BryanP said:
I meant, I'm not sure if this thread belonged in this forum.
Yeah... yeah... I read the first post that you replaced with this one.. 'Fess up, bro... you're sucking one back right now, aren't you? (And I hate to alarm you, but you're really supposed to take the goldfish out of the bowl before indulging.)
 
Danger said:
Yeah... yeah... I read the first post that you replaced with this one.. 'Fess up, bro... you're sucking one back right now, aren't you? (And I hate to alarm you, but you're really supposed to take the goldfish out of the bowl before indulging.)

lol...no :smile:
 
:biggrin:

Love your avatar, by the bye. Is that a family crest?
 

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