Farting in space

Soldato
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Inbe4 theoretical thread.


Let's say you are in space, stationary, without a suit (NAKED), somehow you survive long enough to let out a backdoor breeze. Does this propel you? Do you move at all? Does it act as a thruster?

Serious answers only pls


EDIT: No planes, no treadmills. Don't even think about it!
 
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Yes it would act as thrust. As would breathing out.
However it wouldn't make a whole lot of difference to your velocity due to it being such little thrust compared to your weight.
 
Yes it would act as thrust. As would breathing out.
However it wouldn't make a whole lot of difference to your velocity due to it being such little thrust compared to your weight.

Depends on how long the fart lasts. Perhaps you could replace ion thrusters for flatulence?
 
Just need to confirm here: Is the gas vent open to space, with no clothing in the way to divert the flow of gas?
 
Then, Yes*.
/Thread

*Obviously your diet and state of health will determine the precise thrust you receive upon expulsion of gas. Let's just hope you don't follow through, because that would be really embarrassing to be remembered by...
 
AS level physics!

Yup, it would provide some thrust, but wouldn't accelerate you very much at all. Although the great thing about a frictionless environment is that with enough time to spare even if small amount of initial thrust will get you in your intended flatulent free direction.
 
Yes it would act as thrust. As would breathing out.
However it wouldn't make a whole lot of difference to your velocity due to it being such little thrust compared to your weight.

Weight?

You would move if it was like an engine with all forces equal except no force against the hole so you would travel in direction opposite of a line drawn from centre of ass (inside) to hole

That could be wrong but I thought that's how thrust worked
 
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