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?:abstract
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In the present work, we propose and demonstrate a simple experimental visualization to simulate sneezing by maintaining dynamic similarity to actual sneezing A pulsed jet with Reynolds number Re = 30 000 is created using compressed air and a solenoid valve Tracer particles are introduced in the flow to capture the emulated turbulent jet formed due to a sneeze The visualization is accomplished using a camera and laser illumination It is observed that a typical sneeze can travel up to 25 ft in ∼22 s in a quiescent environment This highlights that the present widely accepted safe distance of 6 ft is highly underestimated, especially under the act of a sneeze Our study demonstrates that a three-layer homemade mask is just adequate to impede the penetration of fine-sized particles, which may cause the spreading of the infectious pathogen responsible for COVID-19 However, a surgical mask cannot block the sneeze, and the sneeze particle can travel up to 2 5 ft We strongly recommend using at least a three-layer homemade mask with a social distancing of 6 ft to combat the transmission of COVID-19 virus In offices, we recommend the use of face masks and shields to prevent the spreading of droplets carrying the infectious pathogen Interestingly, an N-95 mask blocks the sneeze in the forward direction;however, the leakage from the sides and top spreads the sneeze in the backward direction up to 2 ft We strongly recommend using the elbow or hands to prevent droplet leakage even after wearing a mask during sneezing and coughing
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