Farting in space

Simple Momentum Theory

Turning to the math, the thrust F generated by the Fart is equal to the pressure jump delta p times the Fart area A:


F = delta p * A

A units check shows that:


force = (force/area) * area

We can use Bernoulli's equation to relate the pressure and velocity ahead of and behind the Fart, but not through the disk. Ahead of the disk the total pressure pt0 equals the static pressure p0 plus the dynamic pressure .5 * r * V0 ^2.


pt0 = p0 + .5 * r * V0 ^2

where r is the air density and V0 is the velocity of the Fart. Downstream of the butt,


pte = p0 + .5 * r * Ve ^2

where pte is the downstream total pressure and Ve is the exit velocity. At the butt itself the pressure jumps


delta p = pte - pt0

Therefore, at the butt,


delta p = .5 * r * [Ve ^2 - V0 ^2]

Substituting the values given by Bernoulli's equation into the thrust equation, we obtain


F = .5 * r * A * [Ve ^2 - V0 ^2]

We still must determine the magnitude of the exit velocity. A Fart based on the momentum equation provides this value.
 
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Gambisk said:
I'm not sure if that clears it up entirely. 6÷2(3) the "3" is still in brackets so shouldn't it be multiplied first? Or do the brackets get removed once all the functions within them have been completed?
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The 3 is simply just a 3. It currently is the sum of everything in the bracket. The x3 would be basically 'x(3)'
 
One thing is certain about farting in space. With it being a vacuum nobody is going to hear or smell it, so you would get away with it :D
 
Surely this question falls as soon as you said that you survive without a suit?

As soon as you go into space without a suit, you'd freeze to death immediately - Please correct me if I'm wrong, I'm interested now :p
 
plasmahal said:
It's all down to maths....

6÷2(1+2)

1 or 9?

:):):):)
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Simple.

6÷2(1+2) is identical to 6÷2*(1+2)

Which gives 6÷2*3

Giving 3*3 = 9

To get the answer 1 you have to treat '6÷2(3)' in the same way as '6÷(2*3)'. And so it should have been written '6÷(2(3))'.
 
Is it Sandra Bullock or George Clooney doing the farting? This is important as women cannot fart, thus rendering the experiment futile before it has even started. Fstarted.
 
Marky said:
Surely this question falls as soon as you said that you survive without a suit?

As soon as you go into space without a suit, you'd freeze to death immediately - Please correct me if I'm wrong, I'm interested now :p
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Isn't there a widely held opinion by scientists that you could survive for a little while in Space. I'm not talking hours, but perhaps a few seconds. Certainly long enough to unleash a bum burp for the purposes of science :).
 
Skeeter said:
Isn't there a widely held opinion by scientists that you could survive for a little while in Space. I'm not talking hours, but perhaps a few seconds. Certainly long enough to unleash a bum burp for the purposes of science :).
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Hahaha :p Any volunteers? :p :D
 
Marky said:
Surely this question falls as soon as you said that you survive without a suit?

As soon as you go into space without a suit, you'd freeze to death immediately - Please correct me if I'm wrong, I'm interested now :p
Click to expand...

Presumably there is some 'zone' near the sun where it will be warm enough to not freeze to death. What that zone is I don't know because I'm sure that earth's atmosphere and internal heat has a significant affect on its temperature.

*edit*
Skeeter said:
Isn't there a widely held opinion by scientists that you could survive for a little while in Space. I'm not talking hours, but perhaps a few seconds. Certainly long enough to unleash a bum burp for the purposes of science :).
Click to expand...
It was on QI a while ago. I believe it is in the region of 30-60 seconds but i am happy to be proved wrong


ps. You guys were no fun at all. I was hoping that at least someone would argue (incorrectly) that the helicopter would take off :(
 
soundood said:
Simple Momentum Theory

Turning to the math, the thrust F generated by the Fart is equal to the pressure jump delta p times the Fart area A:


F = delta p * A

A units check shows that:


force = (force/area) * area

We can use Bernoulli's equation to relate the pressure and velocity ahead of and behind the Fart, but not through the disk. Ahead of the disk the total pressure pt0 equals the static pressure p0 plus the dynamic pressure .5 * r * V0 ^2.


pt0 = p0 + .5 * r * V0 ^2

where r is the air density and V0 is the velocity of the Fart. Downstream of the butt,


pte = p0 + .5 * r * Ve ^2

where pte is the downstream total pressure and Ve is the exit velocity. At the butt itself the pressure jumps


delta p = pte - pt0

Therefore, at the butt,


delta p = .5 * r * [Ve ^2 - V0 ^2]

Substituting the values given by Bernoulli's equation into the thrust equation, we obtain


F = .5 * r * A * [Ve ^2 - V0 ^2]

We still must determine the magnitude of the exit velocity. A Fart based on the momentum equation provides this value.
Click to expand...

at the end of it, it'll come down to
mv = m1v1 + m2v2 (excuse the lack of subscript)

where m1 = mass of the farter and v1 his velocity post-fart,
and m2 = the mass of the fart gases and v2 their total velocity

The greater the density and velocity of the fart, the faster it would propel you. If naked, we can assume no trousers act upon the fart itself and by extension the farter, containing momentum to one body of mass.
 
soundood said:
Simple Momentum Theory

Turning to the math, the thrust F generated by the Fart is equal to the pressure jump delta p times the Fart area A:


F = delta p * A

A units check shows that:


force = (force/area) * area

We can use Bernoulli's equation to relate the pressure and velocity ahead of and behind the Fart, but not through the disk. Ahead of the disk the total pressure pt0 equals the static pressure p0 plus the dynamic pressure .5 * r * V0 ^2.


pt0 = p0 + .5 * r * V0 ^2

where r is the air density and V0 is the velocity of the Fart. Downstream of the butt,


pte = p0 + .5 * r * Ve ^2

where pte is the downstream total pressure and Ve is the exit velocity. At the butt itself the pressure jumps


delta p = pte - pt0

Therefore, at the butt,


delta p = .5 * r * [Ve ^2 - V0 ^2]

Substituting the values given by Bernoulli's equation into the thrust equation, we obtain


F = .5 * r * A * [Ve ^2 - V0 ^2]

We still must determine the magnitude of the exit velocity. A Fart based on the momentum equation provides this value.
Click to expand...

I lolled every time I read the word 'butt'.

However, this is a brilliant answer. Glad I'm really sparking some important debate :)
 
Marky said:
Surely this question falls as soon as you said that you survive without a suit?

As soon as you go into space without a suit, you'd freeze to death immediately - Please correct me if I'm wrong, I'm interested now :p
Click to expand...

Or just change the question slightly to onboard ISS
 
The bigger question is this...


how come, when we were kids on bmx's if you were riding fast and farted you could still smell it? :p
 
I don't see how you would freeze to death without a space suit because you're in a vacuum, the perfect insulator. That's why they use vacuums to insulate thermos flasks. I reckon you'd stay at body temperature indefinitely.
 
Having a quick laugh at most things here :D

I'm guessing if you fart too much & fill up your suit, you'd pass out and be pulled in. ;)

But suitless, you'd release the fart into space as a gas cloud, and nothing else should occur.
 
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