What makes it possible to drink through a straw

Straws and other plastic products can end up in the ocean. This happens for several reasons, including littering by humans and overflowing landfills. In the ocean, plastic breaks down into smaller pieces called microplastics.

If animals like turtles, seagulls, and fish eat these microplastics, they can develop serious health issues. Additionally, some marine animals are eaten by humans. If you have a motor or swallowing disorder, straws can help you safely drink beverages. Otherwise, if you only use straws for convenience, it may be healthier to ditch them.

Drinking through a straw can contribute to lip wrinkles, bloating, cavities, and teeth staining. If you must drink through a straw, consider using a reusable straw to reduce plastic waste. The production and disposal of plastic straws contribute to environmental pollution. Aerophagia is the medical term used to describe excessive and repetitive air swallowing.

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The liquid in the straw and around it is being pushed down by the air above it in a similar way, so they reach about the same level. But it gets interesting when you remove some air from the straw. Suddenly, there is less air pressure inside and liquid is pushed up the straw. The more air you remove from the straw, the higher the liquid will be pushed into it. Do you think there is a limit to how high the liquid can rise in a straw? Observations and results When you suck air from the straw, less air pushes on the water inside the straw than on the water outside of it.

This imbalance causes more water to be pushed into the straw. The water will rise until the pressure created by the water column in the straw equals the air pressure difference. Remove more air, and a bigger difference in air pressure will cause the water level to rise even higher into the straw. As soon as the water reaches the height of your mouth, you can drink.

Your lung power determines how much air you can remove. Some will have difficulty with a three-foot straw whereas others can successfully drink standing eight feet above their drink! There is a limit though. If you could create a complete vacuum in your mouth by removing all the air, the water could rise about 30 feet high.

It's not possible, however, to create a complete vacuum in the human mouth, so usually people reach their straw-slurping limit at a much lower level! Note that it is mainly the difference in height the water needs to overcome that counts, not the total length the water needs to travel in the straw. Holding your straw almost horizontally will allow you to suck up water over a very long distance. More to explore Would a Straw Work in Space?

This activity brought to you in partnership with Science Buddies. Already a subscriber? Sign in. Thanks for reading Scientific American. Create your free account or Sign in to continue. See Subscription Options. Discover World-Changing Science. Materials A package of plastic straws at least one dozen , preferably those with a bendable part Scissors Ruler Tape Drinking glass filled with water Level surface that can get wet or if not, something to protect it Sturdy chair or table on which to stand Preparation Have an adult help to cut two half-inch slits, across from one another, lengthwise in one end of a plastic straw.

These cuts will help you slip the end of one straw over another one. Prepare 10 more straws in a similar way until you have enough for a superlong mega-straw! You can also come back to these steps during the process in case you need more straws for your mega-straw. Procedure Slip the cut end of a prepared straw over the end of an unprepared straw. Wrap the area where the straws overlap with tape so you have an airtight seal. Do not hurry; a good airtight seal will help you avoid trouble later.

Why do you think a secure, airtight seal is essential for your mega-straw to function well? That happens when the levels are even. So, why can you use a straw to get the liquid up into your mouth, higher than the level in the glass? When you inhale through the straw, you take the atmosphere out of the straw it goes into your lungs. Now the atmosphere is pushing down on the liquid in the glass, with noting the balance it inside the straw, so the liquid rises…into your mouth!

Scientists deal with this problem all the time. Here are a few experiments you can try to see the atmosphere! Drink something from it to be sure that it works. Now, make a small hole in it make sure the hole is large enough to see. Make sure the hole is above the level of the liquid in the glass.

Does the straw still work? What happens if you cover the hole with your finger and then try to drink? When you suck on a straw that has a hole, you pull air through the hole, instead of removing air from the straw.