# How much flatulence would it take to become airborne?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-flatulence-would-it-take-to-become-airborne/608767>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [January 7, 2012, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-flatulence-would-it-take-to-become-airborne/608767 "2012-01-07T21:57:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![katiebug9851](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@katiebug9851](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/katiebug9851)\
**Post date:** [January 7, 2012, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-flatulence-would-it-take-to-become-airborne/608767/1 "2012-01-07T21:57:13Z")

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I have a follow up question on this. Assuming you can trap the pressure, are an average person, and can fart indefinitely, how long would you have to fart for the pressure to build up enough for you to become airborne? How long would you have to fart to be lifted, say, 10 feet in the air?

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**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\
**Post date:** [January 7, 2012, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-flatulence-would-it-take-to-become-airborne/608767/2 "2012-01-07T21:58:33Z")

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[Column.](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2938/how-much-flatulence-would-it-take-to-become-airborne)

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**Author:** ![John\_W.Kennedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_w.kennedy/32/1031_2.png) [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\
**Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-flatulence-would-it-take-to-become-airborne/608767/3 "2012-01-08T03:55:41Z")

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As expressed, the question makes absolutely no sense. Actually farting /lowers/ pressure.

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**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\
**Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-flatulence-would-it-take-to-become-airborne/608767/4 "2012-01-08T16:43:23Z")

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The last guy who tried it died in a rectal typhoon.

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**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-flatulence-would-it-take-to-become-airborne/608767/5 "2012-01-11T21:56:54Z")

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I think he’s talking about the “collect your farts in a balloon” plan that requires filling the balloon to 30 feet in diameter, per Cecil.

How many farts is that? How long would that take?

If the question is about farting as fast and long as possible, then the answer is “it will never work”. Farts don’t add up in lifting power. Either the emission gives you lift or not (mostly not). The next thrust doesn’t change that.

Now in weightlessness, continuous farting would increase your velocity. According to Una’s calculations, that’s 0.2 Newtons per fart. That’s 0.2 Newtons of not very well directed thrust. 9.81 Newtons is standard gravity.