8 More Science Facts To Make You Sound Clever At Parties

6. "I Can Lift 10 Tonnes"

Hey there, stud, pretty impressive stuff. Well, until you find out that everybody else can lift 10 tonnes too. Yes, even your sweet, little granny. Okay, this is might be a bit sneaky of, but what we're referring to here is the column of air that extends above you into the atmosphere. This air, presuming that you are at sea level and the area of the top of your head and shoulders is 0.1m2 exerts a pressure of 10,000 kg per square metre, and so you are carrying 10 tonnes of pressure on your shoulders. So, if this is the case, then why aren't we all flat on the floor whimpering for our mothers? Because, no offence, but you definitely can't lift 10 tonnes. Luckily, the pressure is being exerted in all directions, and the pressure of our bodies is equal to the atmospheric pressure. Think of it as your blood and bones and skin are all pushing outwards with the same force that the air is pushing inwards. It helps that most of the material in your body is either solid or liquid, which are non-compressible, and the air pressure in your lungs is equal pressure to the atmospheric pressure. Of course, you don't have to explain any of this if you really want people to think you can lift 10 tonnes. Be prepared for lot of people to ask you to help them move house though.