suction

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Dictionary: suc·tion (sŭk'shən) pronunciation

The act or process of sucking.
A force that causes a fluid or solid to be drawn into an interior space or to adhere to a surface because of the difference between the external and internal pressures.

tr.v., -tioned, -tion·ing, -tions.

To draw away or remove by the force of suction: suction fluid from the lungs.
To clean or evacuate (a body cavity, for example) by the force of suction.

adj.

Creating suction.
Operating or operated by suction.

[Late Latin sūctiō, sūctiōn-, from Latin sūctus, past participle of sūgere, to suck.]

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Architecture: suction

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1. In plastering, the absorption of water from a plaster finish coat by the base coat (or the base, such as block or gypsum lath), thus providing a better bond and causing it to adhere to the base coat.
2. The adhesion of mortar to bricks.

Veterinary Dictionary: suctioning

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Removal of material through the use of negative pressure, as in suctioning an operative wound during and after surgery to remove exudates.

Wikipedia: Suction

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This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2008)

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.

Suction in biology

Young woman drinking with a straw.

Infants, and all baby mammals, are born with a sucking (or suckling) reflex, which they use in nursing liquid foods, such as milk. They do not have to learn this reflex, because it is instinctive. Some adult animals use suction in drinking, as do humans when using drinking straws. In breathing, the diaphragm muscle is used to expand the lungs, allowing air to enter due to the outside air pressure.

Large plants can actually create a negative pressure by transpirational pull.

Pumps

Pumps used for pumping or moving fluids 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. Operation of the pump creates suction (a lower pressure) at the suction side so that fluid can enter the pump through the inlet. Pump 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 example, 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.

Under normal conditions of atmospheric pressure suction can draw pure water up to a maximum height of approximately 10.3 m (33.9 feet).

In 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.

		Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2007. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more
		Architecture. McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Architecture and Construction. Copyright © 2003 by McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Read more
		Veterinary Dictionary. Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary 3rd Edition. Copyright © 2007 by D.C. Blood, V.P. Studdert and C.C. Gay, Elsevier. All rights reserved. Read more
		Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Suction". Read more
		Translations. Copyright © 2007, WizCom Technologies Ltd. All rights reserved. Read more

Strong Suction Vacuum	Bissell Clearview Sweeper Suction Rating
Garmin C330 Suction Disk

suction

Suction in biology

Pumps

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