Suppose you had a very long straw that could reach from a cup of water on the ground level to the top of a very tall building. When you suck on the straw in order to bring water up,
A) You could drink the water at any height with no problem
B) You could bring the water up to only a certain height in the straw because the atmosphere pushes down on the surface of the water by a given amount.
C) You could bring the water up to only a certain height in the straw because after it will flash freeze in the cup.
D) Water is too thick to be pulled up in the straw by more than a few inches.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The maximum height to which water can be sucked up in a straw is limited by atmospheric pressure. This pressure can only support a column of water up to about 10.3 meters (or 34 feet) at sea level. Beyond this height, the pressure is insufficient to counteract gravity, preventing water from being drawn any higher.

Suppose You Had a Very Long Straw That Could Reach