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General Science => General Science => Topic started by: neilep on 11/03/2012 17:55:11

Title: Why Is It Difficult To Breathe In A Strong Wind ?
Post by: neilep on 11/03/2012 17:55:11
Dearest Windologists,


I was recently at a restaurant and after consuming some rather sticky chicken wings I needed to avail myself of the bathroom facilities.

So, off I went with a skip and hop and a whistle on my lips and proceeded to remove said stickiness. I perchance perused to notice that the hand drier had a maneuverable blowy airy thing and thus in addition to my hands I could dry my face. Aghast !!!.....I found it difficult to breathe with such a rush of air !!...How come ?..I mean the air was blowing towards my face !!..why should it be difficult to inhale ?


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This was the offending type !!...Oh my !!..the Nightmares are coming back !




I became a little distressed and seeing as we are becoming as litigious as our USA chums I called a lawyer and had the restaurant immediatly closed pending investigation. Shame the kids parties had to end so abruptly but for their sake I could not risk them also becoming distressed by having air blowing on their face.

However, If ewe can assure me with a favourable answer I will forgo the liturgy and just accept the out of court settlement....I am sure the manager and his staff will find other jobs anyway to accommodate my damages !

So..Why Is It Difficult To Breathe In A Strong Wind ?


I'm still distressed a little..I might sue my lawyers because they did not have my favoured brand of coffee and this distressed me greatly too whilst we discussed the out of court settlement  !

Can ewe help ?



Thanks

Neil
xxxx

Title: Re: Why Is It Difficult To Breathe In A Strong Wind ?
Post by: David Cooper on 11/03/2012 21:26:25
I'm guessing that the flow of air from that gadget was going past your mouth and acting a bit like a vacuum cleaner, attempting to suck air out of your mouth and thereby making it harder to breathe in. When air moves, its pressure drops, and that's why you get a suction effect. You can see this effect when you blow between two balloons held a few inches apart - they get sucked together rather than pushed further apart. It can't be quite that simple though, because if you set all the air in a room moving round and round in circles, the pressure can't simply drop throughout the room without also going up somewhere, or can it?
Title: Re: Why Is It Difficult To Breathe In A Strong Wind ?
Post by: neilep on 16/03/2012 10:38:07
I'm guessing that the flow of air from that gadget was going past your mouth and acting a bit like a vacuum cleaner, attempting to suck air out of your mouth and thereby making it harder to breathe in. When air moves, its pressure drops, and that's why you get a suction effect. You can see this effect when you blow between two balloons held a few inches apart - they get sucked together rather than pushed further apart. It can't be quite that simple though, because if you set all the air in a room moving round and round in circles, the pressure can't simply drop throughout the room without also going up somewhere, or can it?

David..Thank you very much !..I suspected it was an air pressure thing but needed the substantiation of someone who is klevur....and you came through..thanks.  :)
Title: Re: Why Is It Difficult To Breathe In A Strong Wind ?
Post by: RD on 16/03/2012 13:27:24
maybe due to turbulence ... http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/pturb.html#turb

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbulent_flow

[ c.f. laminar flow ... http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/pfric.html ]
Title: Re: Why Is It Difficult To Breathe In A Strong Wind ?
Post by: neilep on 17/03/2012 05:06:49
maybe due to turbulence ... http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/pturb.html#turb

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbulent_flow

[ c.f. laminar flow ... http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/pfric.html ]

Again, corroboration of a valid kind. Thank ewe RD ! An incredible resource as always !
Title: Re: Why Is It Difficult To Breathe In A Strong Wind ?
Post by: Geezer on 18/03/2012 05:25:04
I wonder if it's also difficult to fart in a strong wind?
Title: Re: Why Is It Difficult To Breathe In A Strong Wind ?
Post by: RD on 18/03/2012 07:10:21
I wonder if it's also difficult to fart in a strong wind?

mufflers do increase back-pressure (http://auto.howstuffworks.com/muffler5.htm)
Title: Re: Why Is It Difficult To Breathe In A Strong Wind ?
Post by: David Cooper on 18/03/2012 22:17:20
I wonder if it's also difficult to fart in a strong wind?

If the wind's really strong, it might be hard not to.
Title: Re: Why Is It Difficult To Breathe In A Strong Wind ?
Post by: Joe L. Ogan on 18/03/2012 22:27:34
It would be very difficult to prove that you had.  It would be gone with the wind.  Thanks for comments.  Joe L. Ogan
Title: Re: Why Is It Difficult To Breathe In A Strong Wind ?
Post by: imacarthur1 on 17/07/2012 23:16:33
REALLY????? You had a restaurant shut down because you don't know how to use a blow dryer????? wow...