When a tornado forms, the surrounding region experiences a severe drop in air pr

Question

When a tornado forms, the surrounding region experiences a severe drop in air pressure. However, inside of a building the pressure of the air remains roughly atmospheric pressure. Assume for this problem that a building has a flat, horizontal roof with area Aroof = 50 m2 , and that the pressure outside the building drops to Poutside = 99, 500 Pa. (a) Calculate the force that the outside air exerts on the roof. What direction does it point? (b) Calculate the force that the air inside the building exerts on the roof. What direction does it point? (c) What is the net force acting on the roof caused by air pressure? In what direction does the net force point?

Explanation / Answer

(A) F = P . A

= (99,500) (50)

= 4975000 N Or 4975 kN

(B) F = (101325) (50)

= 5066250 N or 5066.25 kN

(C) Fnet = 5066.25 - 4975 = 91.25 kN toward outside

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