Simulation Shows How Sneeze Particles Travel Through A Plane
- 10 years ago
To see exactly how the sneeze of one sick passenger spreads through a crowded airplane, Popular Science worked with a simulation company to illustrate a likely scenario.
Airplanes are great for quickly getting people from one place to another, but they can also hasten the spread of infectious illnesses like the flu.
To see exactly how the sneeze of one sick passenger spreads, Popular Science worked with ANSYS software simulation company to illustrate a likely scenario.
At the beginning of the video, passenger zero sits in the middle of a packed flight.
That person sneezes and a cloud of flu-ridden particles forms over their head.
It distributes in accordance with the cabin’s airflow, and eventually travels quite far.
Those who end up getting the bulk of passenger zero’s influenza germs, however, are the people sitting nearest.
They include all three sections of the row that he or she is in, and the left and right sections of the row behind.
Somehow, those in the middle grouping of seats immediately behind the sneezer are spared.
No doubt, while hearing this some have Ebola running through their minds. This scenario does not pertain to that particular health matter, as the Ebola virus is not an airborne pathogen.
The flu, on the other hand, is, and studies such as these help both airlines and health officials learn how to limit its spread.
Airplanes are great for quickly getting people from one place to another, but they can also hasten the spread of infectious illnesses like the flu.
To see exactly how the sneeze of one sick passenger spreads, Popular Science worked with ANSYS software simulation company to illustrate a likely scenario.
At the beginning of the video, passenger zero sits in the middle of a packed flight.
That person sneezes and a cloud of flu-ridden particles forms over their head.
It distributes in accordance with the cabin’s airflow, and eventually travels quite far.
Those who end up getting the bulk of passenger zero’s influenza germs, however, are the people sitting nearest.
They include all three sections of the row that he or she is in, and the left and right sections of the row behind.
Somehow, those in the middle grouping of seats immediately behind the sneezer are spared.
No doubt, while hearing this some have Ebola running through their minds. This scenario does not pertain to that particular health matter, as the Ebola virus is not an airborne pathogen.
The flu, on the other hand, is, and studies such as these help both airlines and health officials learn how to limit its spread.