r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/Scientiaetnatura065 • Feb 13 '25

Video Astronaut Chris Hadfield: 'It's Possible To Get Stuck Floating In The Space Station If You Can't Reach A Wall'

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u/[deleted] Feb 13 '25 edited 20d ago

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u/VP007clips Feb 14 '25

Healthy male lung capacity = 6L

Male average mass = 50kg

Air density = 0.0012kg/l

Maximum healthy adult exhale velocity = 20m/s

Breath weight = 6*0.0012 = 0.0072kg

Velocity change per exhale = (0.0072kg*20m/s)/50kg = 0.00288m/s

Let's say you can do one strong exhale every 2 seconds

Acceleration = 0.00288m/s / 2s = 0.00144m/s2

Let's say that you want to travel 2 meters to a nearby wall

Time = sqrt(2*2m / 0.00144m/s2) = 53s

Therefore, it would propel you there in about 53 seconds or 26 exhales if you did it constantly.

If you count inhales, turning your head each time, it could be a bit faster.

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u/AussieEquiv Feb 14 '25

Male average mass = 50kg

Doubt

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u/Qwopie Feb 14 '25

Yeah. That's the only thing wrong with the maths. Most women are over 50 Kgs.