Suction

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to
reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2011)
Suction is the flow of a fluid into a partial vacuum, or region of low pressure. The pressure gradient between this
region and the ambient pressure will propel matter toward the low pressure area. Suction is popularly thought of as
an attractive effect, which is incorrect since vacuums do not innately attract matter. Dust being "sucked" into a
vacuum cleaner is actually being pushed in by the higher pressure air on the outside of the cleaner. The higher
pressure of the surrounding fluid can push matter into a vacuum but a vacuum cannot attract matter.
umans can create a sucking effect with the use of the lips, as in the case of drinking through a straw.
Pumps[edit]
!ain article" #ump
See also" Suction pump
#umps typically have an inlet where the fluid enters the pump and an outlet where the fluid comes out. The inlet
location is said to be at the suction side of the pump. The outlet location is said to be at the discharge side of the
pump. $peration of the pump creates suction %a lower pressure& at the suction side so that fluid can enter the pump
through the inlet. #ump operation also causes higher pressure at the discharge side by forcing the fluid out at the
outlet. There may be pressure sensing devices at the pump's suction and(or discharge sides which control the
operation of the pump. For e)ample, if the suction pressure of a centrifugal pump is too low, a device may trigger
the pump to shut off to keep it from running dry* i. e. with no fluid entering.
+nder normal conditions of atmospheric pressure suction can draw pure water up to a ma)imum height of
appro)imately ,-.. m %.../ feet&.
0,1
This is the same as the ma)imum height of a siphon, which operates by the
same principle.
021
3n medicine, suction devices are used to clear airways of materials that would impede breathing or cause infections,
to aid in surgery, and for other purposes.
See also[edit]
4ook up suction in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
3mplosion
sucks 5 a %sometimes vulgar& term of disparagement
Suction cup
Suction cupping
6acuum
6acuum cleaner
References[edit]
,. Jump up ^ %7alvert 2---, "!a)imum height to which water can be raised by a suction pump"&
2. Jump up ^ %7alvert 2---, "The siphon"&
7alvert, 8ames 9. %,, !ay 2---&, Hydrostatics