Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: paul.fr on 14/06/2007 22:55:43

Title: why does some poo float, and others sink?
Post by: paul.fr on 14/06/2007 22:55:43

a shy member has asked me to post this question for them - does that mean i normally ask these types of questions?

Anyway, why do some poos sink and others float?

Title: why does some poo float, and others sink?
Post by: kdlynn on 14/06/2007 22:57:33

i'm guessing that it has to do with the density of the um... poo. things that are more dense than water sink, right?

Title: why does some poo float, and others sink?
Post by: dentstudent on 15/06/2007 08:29:21

Perhaps it has to do with what you eat too - my hypothesis would be that an increase in meat product increases the density of the turd, and also has less gas within it, hence it s(t)inks. Vegetative matter is not quite so well digested due to the cellulose content and also creates a lot of gas which would improve its floating capacity.


What do you think?

Title: why does some poo float, and others sink?
Post by: another_someone on 15/06/2007 10:36:55

I would guess that most of the floatation is caused by gas produced by bacteria in your large intestines, which would essentially lead to the same answer that dentstudent gave, that cellulose will better feed the bacteria in the large intestines and so will create more gas.

Title: why does some poo float, and others sink?
Post by: paul.fr on 15/06/2007 10:46:59

what about fats?