Take my breath away

[tkoebler]

When you stick your head out of the car window, why is it hard to breathe?

[kujawski]

1) is the car moving or not,

if not it may be because you are near a sewage works

[matt_london1]

Maybe some reflex action that prevents too much air filling our lungs?

[wildwood]

Just taking a stab in the dark here.....

Maybe it is the instinct part of your brain telling you to breath carefully as wind in your face used to mean sand and rubbish blowing in your face.

Then again, it could be that still air is easier to breath in than rapidly moving air, as it moves over your face in a jetstream.

I don't really know... can you tell?

[newtron]

Well, air moves into your lungs due to a pressure gradient created by the expansion of the lungs (increase of volume). In other words, when the diaphragm allows the lungs to expand, the pressure in the lungs is less than the pressure outside the body, which is why air moves into the lungs. Air flows from high pressure to low pressure. The pressure associated with moving air is less than that in still air (Bernoulli's principle). So maybe the pressure gradient between moving air the lungs is significantly less than it is with still air, resulting in it being harder to breath when you stick you head outside a moving vehicle.

[tkoebler]

Thanks everyone! I am a sixth grade science teacher and this was a student question that I couldn't figure out the answer to. :) You've been a huge help!!!

[weggiewabbit]

You seem to have got one sensible answer!

[kujawski]

which was mine!

[wildwood]

What have I ever done to you <tkoebler?

You choose to award all answers with at least one star, even obviously stupid ones, yet you ignored mine. If you care to re-read my answer you'll see that I was right on the button with my second guess as confirmed by newtron's submission.

You say you are a sixth grade teacher.... no wonder the education system is in such a terrible condition.

[kujawski]

yeah tkoebler
you are a swine,
a swine from swineville
one of the worst swines ever
all you swines think about is your
own swining self you swine master

[tkoebler]

Take it easy Wildwood. I'm not really into posting things on the internet. By rating a few of the entries, I was trying to encourage sensible answers that would help my situation. I am far too busy with my teachng to reply to everyone. Didn't mean to hurt your feelings. Ease up on your sensitivity level. As far as the teacher comment... that's just wasn't nice. To be honest...you sound more like one of my 6th graders than an adult. "I didn't get any stars!" He said in his most whiny voice. "It's ok little Wildwood... maybe next time." Said in my most motherly teacher voice.

[tkoebler]

As a precautionary measure, I have deleted all of my previous ratings with hopes to spare the sensitivities of others. You can't all be my favorite.

[wildwood]

Well, a mature person would have recognised their error and stated so, or not replied at all. Your terribly weak excuse and childish reply sadly proves that my commend is correct and still stands.