Pool of Skittles

[Azkarin]

I had a random question that usually turns into a large debate so I thought I'd bring it to BG for answers.

Imagine the deep end of a pool that is 15ft deep. Imagine that it is completely drained of water and instead filled to the top with Skittles. Now what are yalls opinion on the following questions?

1) Could you walk across it without falling into it? Would you sink to the bottom of just go down a bit?

2) If you were to sink to the bottom, could you swim your way to the top?

3) Would you suffocate at the bottom of the pool?

I think you would sink part way into the pool. Definitely far enough to cover your head. I don't think you could swim back up and would eventually die of suffocation due to the lack of fresh air around you to breath.

[Plow]

puff puff pass dude seriously

[Vandole]

might i direct you to..

http://www.adamsavage.com/images/pix/mythbusters.jpg

I'd like to see them do this. lol this and a pool full of jello.

[Tricen]

If you had a running start you could prolly get across.. As for swimming... The weight might just kill you lol.

[Azkarin]

I discussed this with some people tonight and they mentioned Mythbusters too. I'd love to see what a pool full of Skittles looked like. Also, the weight might kill you too. I never thought of that.

[Kaylia]

If Jesus was able to walk on Water, would he also be able walk on Skittles?

1) Skittles are more massive than snow. Considering the fact that I can walk over snow without sinking too much, we should be able to walk over a skittle pool easily. Might have skittle up to your knees, but the crushed skittle should be dense enough to support you. You could probably crawl your way to the other side if you aren't too heavy.

If you are not careful, it's probably possible to sink at the bottom

2) You would be crushed to death by rainbow colored candies.

3) Even if there is space between skittles, you wont get enough fresh air to make up for the one you use.


[edit]
If you try hard, you can probably swim down deep enough to suffocate, but I doubt you could reach the bottom. I doubt you can swim back up too

[Blarg]

Without really thinking too much about it I think you would sink and wouldn't be able to swim, I'm not sure if you would be strong enough to really move the skittles with your arms or legs.

[Plow]

you could probably like lay down on it...

[Azkarin]

If Jesus was able to walk on Water, would he also be able walk on Skittles?

1) Skittle are more massive than snow. Considering the fact that I can walk over snow without sinking too much, we should be able to walk over a skittle pool easily. Might have skittle up to your knee, but the crushed skittle should be dense enough to support you.

But the snow gets pushed down and mashes together forming a stronger solid. The Skittles would just slide around you, not smash against the ones below... or thats what I think. God I want to test this.

[Tricen]

I'd make sure I had a cage over it and just be happy forever.

[Kaisha]

I feel you would fall in, since the skittles would spread up and out of the pool due to your weight forcing itself in on them......

Sinking in, fresh air shouldn't be a problem, moving about will create new pockets of air to breeze that get between the skittles.........or so I hope.
(I want to use those kid playpens as an example, but large spheres > tiny skittles)


Wouldn't mind to see Mythbusters tackle that myself, just to see it actually done. <.<

[Ace-o-fire]

It's like a ball pit.

[Lordwafik]

I had a random question that usually turns into a large debate so I thought I'd bring it to BG for answers.

Imagine the deep end of a pool that is 15ft deep. Imagine that it is completely drained of water and instead filled to the top with Skittles. Now what are yalls opinion on the following questions?

1) Could you walk across it without falling into it? Would you sink to the bottom of just go down a bit?

Without a doubt you'd be able to walk across them, however depending on the weather, they'd either be sticky and crush under your feet (and stick onto your feet/shoes), or if it was cold you'd probably slip on a bunch of them.

2) If you were to sink to the bottom, could you swim your way to the top?

Highly doubt it. The weight of skittles per cubic metre would be too akward to swim through, I think you'd even have a hard time wading through a shallow pool of skittles.

3) Would you suffocate at the bottom of the pool?

Yes. Skittles are tiny, they are by no means sand, but if you were to sink to the bottom , the moment you opened your mouth they'd come rushing in and you'd probably suffocate.

[Belkin]

If I sank, I WOULD EAT MY WAY OUT FUCK YEAH!

[Faris]

puff puff pass dude seriously

rofl!

[Clipse]

If you sink in and are in danger of suffocating, just eat your way out!

[Tricen]

If you sink in and are in danger of suffocating, just eat your way out!

No one's thought of that. It's genius.

[Faris]

The calories, oh the calories.

[Kaisha]

3) Would you suffocate at the bottom of the pool?

Yes. Skittles are tiny, they are by no means sand, but if you were to sink to the bottom , the moment you opened your mouth they'd come rushing in and you'd probably suffocate.

If so, then breathe through your teeth?
(aside from the fact that'd be the last thing I'd think about if I actually fell into a pool of skittles assuming you could)

[Kaylia]

If Jesus was able to walk on Water, would he also be able walk on Skittles?

1) Skittle are more massive than snow. Considering the fact that I can walk over snow without sinking too much, we should be able to walk over a skittle pool easily. Might have skittle up to your knee, but the crushed skittle should be dense enough to support you.

But the snow gets pushed down and mashes together forming a stronger solid. The Skittles would just slide around you, not smash against the ones below... or thats what I think. God I want to test this.

What you said is true when snow isn't deep, but even if you had an infinite layer of snow, you wouldnt sink forever. Trying to push a skittle toward bottom mean you would have to compress every skittle under you (similar to a spring, except it will lose its shape if you push too hard on it). Compressing a skittle isn't that easy as far as I know, but I don't have any data on the topic. You could try fill a small jar of skittle, step on it and see if bottom skittle were crushed). With a press, you could also figure their compressibility, the maximum force they can support and the volume before/after. Because of their circular nature, movement and force should be for the most part oriented toward bottom, they shouldn't move on the side too much, and those will be canceled.

Another thing to consider in your examples, if you want to push a single skittle toward surface that is 2 feet deep, you will have to move every skittle above him. I don't know what's the pressure when you are 2 feet deep under skittle, but I'm certain it would require a decent amount of energy to push it toward the top. It would be hard to sink under a certain level, unless you twist in every direction to slowly drown in the skittles pool