Naked Science Forum

On the Lighter Side => That CAN'T be true! => Topic started by: thedoc on 19/01/2010 19:08:57

Title: Does having gas make you heavier?
Post by: thedoc on 19/01/2010 19:08:57: What volume of gas does a person has to have to affect their own weight. Does having gas make you weigh more or less?
Asked by Sandra


               Read the naked scientists answer here (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/content/questions/question/2525/)
Title: Does having gas make you heavier?
Post by: Mr. Scientist on 11/12/2009 13:31:35: Makes you weigh more.
Title: Does having gas make you heavier?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 12/12/2009 01:14:30: Quote from: sandramafnas on 11/12/2009 13:30:03
I wanted to know what volume of gas (farts) a person has and the weight of the gas. Does having gas make you weigh less or more?

Most people produce about 1 to 4 pints a day and pass gas about 14 times a day. [xx(]

http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/gas/
Title: Does having gas make you heavier?
Post by: Geezer on 12/12/2009 05:10:52: If you weigh yourself while standing in a swimming pool with the water half-way up your torso, you'll weigh less.

I actually conducted this experiment in our swimming pool when we lived in Mesa, AZ.
Title: Does having gas make you heavier?
Post by: Bored chemist on 12/12/2009 15:00:39: Quote from: DiscoverDave on 11/12/2009 16:08:50
Basketballs, soccer balls, footballs etc weigh more after filled with air.
True, but they weigh less if you fill then with helium.

The composition of the gases in the gut is a bit variable but I bet that the overall mix is less dense than air. Any water vapour or methane would make the gas lighter. So would removing oxygen. The fly in the ointment would be CO2 and I don't know how much of that is present.
Title: Does having gas make you heavier?
Post by: Nizzle on 16/12/2009 09:57:50: Quote from: Bored chemist on 12/12/2009 15:00:39
Quote from: DiscoverDave on 11/12/2009 16:08:50
Basketballs, soccer balls, footballs etc weigh more after filled with air.
True, but they weigh less if you fill then with helium.

The composition of the gases in the gut is a bit variable but I bet that the overall mix is less dense than air. Any water vapour or methane would make the gas lighter. So would removing oxygen. The fly in the ointment would be CO2 and I don't know how much of that is present.

Don't forget that your bowel gases might not be at atmospheric pressure, so even if the mixture would have a density less than air, if the pressure is sufficient, it'll still make you heavier
Title: Does having gas make you heavier?
Post by: Bored chemist on 16/12/2009 20:37:12: There's one to add to the top 10 experiments I never want to do; measure the gas pressure where the sun doesn't shine.
You may be right but I don't plan to cheack. Incidentally I forgot to add that hydrogen is part of the mix. If it were pure H2 then it would need to be under a lot of pressure to be denser than air.
Title: Does having gas make you heavier?
Post by: Don_1 on 17/12/2009 09:11:58: Quote from: sandramafnas on 11/12/2009 13:30:03
sandramafnas asked the Naked Scientists:

Hi from Surprise, Arizona

I wanted to know what volume of gas (farts) a person has and the weight of the gas. Does having gas make you weigh less or more?

Thank you,
Sandra Mafnas

What do you think?

If you think you are going to get extra points at your Weight Watchers meeting by farting before you get on the scales, I have some bad news for you.......
Title: Does having gas make you heavier?
Post by: Nizzle on 17/12/2009 10:06:44: Quote from: Don_1 on 17/12/2009 09:11:58
If you think you are going to get extra points at your Weight Watchers meeting by farting before you get on the scales, I have some bad news for you.......

Maybe they have really accurate scales [;)]
Title: Does having gas make you heavier?
Post by: thedoc on 19/01/2010 19:08:57: Listen to the answer to this question on our podcast. (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2010.01.17/)