Submit Your Manuscript Online

Living in Still-Air Environment Can Increase the Risk of Contracting COVID-19: A Physics View

	International Journal of Scientific Research and Engineering Development (IJSRED)	Full Text:
	Published Issue : Volume-3 Issue-6
	Year of Publication : 2020
	Unique Identification Number : IJSRED-V3I6P19
	Authors : Abidina Bello, M.A.Balarabe, M.J.Sani, Bashir M.Aliyu, Babakano M.Jada
	: Click Here

Abstract :

COVID-19 is regarded as the greatest global challenge since World War II. Consequently, the global scientific community unites to track the progress of COVID-19 research and development. In many researches, aerosol droplets were identified as the major carriers of certain pathogens that are responsible for respiratory ailments, including the global pandemic of SARS-CoV-2. To complement their efforts, this paper aims to estimate the terminal velocity and the settling time of aerosol droplets from either coughing or sneezing healthy subjects at standing position, in a closed space. The settling time determined could be used as an analogy to the real COVID-19 patients. The heights of the subjects as well as the size of each droplet were modelled. The terminal velocity and the settling time of the aerosol droplets were estimated using the Stokes’ model equation. The results showed a direct relationship between the settling time and the height of the subjects and inverse relationship between the settling time and the size of the droplet. The results further revealed the prolonged time taken by droplets of lower sizes to settle down. This study is believed to have given a technical insight about this subject.