Physics question (toilet related)

Ulysses · #1 11-10-2005, 08:52 PM

The longest log post brought this physics question to mind.

OK, let's say you take a dump and there are x pieces. You flush.

Now, sometimes everything flushes. Cool.

But other times, there's a floater left over.

Regardless of the how big x is, it seems like x-1 pieces always get flushed, leaving just one piece floating.

What is the physics explanation for this phenomenon of x-1 pieces getting flushed the first time, regardless of the size of x?

tonypaladino · #2 11-10-2005, 08:53 PM

You should cross post in SMP, you might get some science geniuses to comment.

B Dids · #3 11-10-2005, 08:53 PM

I can't believe a post about crap just went totally over my head.

Whatever this rule is, I'm pretty sure it doesn't apply to the [censored] low-flow, water saving, non-poop disposing shitter that exists in my apartment.

MrTrik · #4 11-10-2005, 08:55 PM

I would bet it has to do with gas content in one turd over another. But I'm no expert on [censored] matters and don't even play one on TV.

Warik · #5 11-10-2005, 08:56 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I can't believe a post about crap just went totally over my head.

[/ QUOTE ]

Me neither. I can't believe that [censored].

tonypaladino · #6 11-10-2005, 08:56 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I can't believe a post about crap just went totally over my head.

Whatever this rule is, I'm pretty sure it doesn't apply to the [censored] low-flow, water saving, non-poop disposing shitter that exists in my apartment.

[/ QUOTE ]

If you have a low-flow toilet, you can open the tank and shorten the chain on the diaphram just enough so that it stays down, then it will use the entire tank for each flush instead of 1/3 of the tank.

Ulysses · #7 11-10-2005, 08:57 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I would bet it has to do with gas content in one turd over another. But I'm no expert on [censored] matters and don't even play one on TV.

[/ QUOTE ]

I do not believe that accounts for the x-1 factor, though.

B Dids · #8 11-10-2005, 08:58 PM

You may have just changed my life.

FouTight · #9 11-10-2005, 09:02 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I would bet it has to do with gas content in one turd over another. But I'm no expert on [censored] matters and don't even play one on TV.

[/ QUOTE ]

I do not believe that accounts for the x-1 factor, though.

[/ QUOTE ]

A problem I have his that this ONLY happens at work for me, not at home or seemingly anywhere else, only work, and yes, always 1, probably about 85% of the time.

MrTrik · #10 11-10-2005, 09:08 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I would bet it has to do with gas content in one turd over another. But I'm no expert on [censored] matters and don't even play one on TV.

[/ QUOTE ]

I do not believe that accounts for the x-1 factor, though.

[/ QUOTE ]

Good point. It would account for the x-1 factor if it was always the first or last that had a higher gas content. I'm reaching here and won't be volunteering to study the dilema.