A4_8 How To Float

Abstract

In this paper, we resolve the vertical forces acting on a 70 kg person to determine that if their lungs are entirely full of helium gas they would feel between 5.24 - 8.73 grams lighter; this is assuming that their surroundings are at a temperature of 20 ◦C and at a pressure of 1 atm. Taking the density of a human body to be 1010 kgm⁻³ [1], we also calculate that in order to be lifted upwards in air, they must inhale a volume of 129 m³ of helium gas. Finally, we discuss the feasibility of inhaling helium gas as a means to achieve the ability to reach suspension in air.