If you are confronted in an open field by a large tornado and there is no way th

Question

If you are confronted in an open field by a large tornado and there is no way that you could outrun it, probably the only thing that you could do would be to run and lie down in a depression. If given the choice, would you run toward your right or left as the tornado approaches? Explain your reasoning. If you are confronted in an open field by a large tornado and there is no way that you could outrun it, probably the only thing that you could do would be to run and lie down in a depression. If given the choice, would you run toward your right or left as the tornado approaches? Explain your reasoning. If you are confronted in an open field by a large tornado and there is no way that you could outrun it, probably the only thing that you could do would be to run and lie down in a depression. If given the choice, would you run toward your right or left as the tornado approaches? Explain your reasoning.

Explanation / Answer

Since more tornadoes rotate in a counterclockwise sense than a clockwise one (in the northern hemisphere), and since such a sense of rotation would make the wind speeds with respect to ground greater on the left side of an approaching tornado than on its right side, the best choice. As the tornado is approaching you you would run toward your left since the forward motion produces a wind relative and opposite to the direction of motion. This wind reduces the counterclockwise wind direction and speed of the tornado. The opposite occurs on the right side of the storm. It is a better policy to dive into a depression or ditch or hide under a bridge, rather than towards or even away from the left side of the tornado.

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