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Is this a myth or a fact the low pressure with a tornado causes buildings to explode as the tornado passes overhead?
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago
It is a myth. The pressure drop inside a tornado is not large enough to cause significant damage. Buildings are torn apart by the powerful winds of a tornado.
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago
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Does low pressure in a tornado cause buildings to explode as the tornado passes overhead?
No. The pressure drop inside a tornado is not enough to cause buildings to explode. Tornadoes tear buildings apart with wind and debris.
Does a tornado's air pressure make houses explode?
No. It was once believed that the low pressure inside a tornado would cause houses to explode, but this notion was disproven by the 1990s. It is the wind and debris in a tornado that destroys houses, not the low pressure.
Does low pressure cause buildings to expload when a tornado passes overhead?
No, that is a complete myth. It is the wind and debris in a tornado that destroys buildings. First the pressure drop is not enough to cause significant damage to a building. The largest reliably recorded pressure drop in a tornado was 100 millibars, but a pressure difference of about 350 millibars is needed to destroy most buildings. Second, buildings are not airtight so pressure will equalize quickly. Third, even if the two statements above were not true the winds and debris in moderate to strong tornado would create enough holes to equalize pressure, if not destroy the building before the center of the tornado (where the lowest pressure is) reaches it. A tornado with a 100 millibar pressure drop would produce winds strong enough to completely level most structures.
Does a tornado's low air pressure often make houses explode?
No. Tornadoes tear houses apart with wind and debris. The notion that the low pressure inside a tornado makes houses explode has been disproven.
Why are people in buildings threatened by a tornado told to open windows to minimize damage?
This is based on the outdated belief that the low pressure inside a tornado causes buildings to essentially explode and that opening windows relieves this pressure difference.This is simply not true.First, evidence so far shows that the pressure inside tornadoes in not low enough to cause damage in such a way.Second, buildings are not airtight so the pressure difference will be relived fairly easily anyway.Tornado damage is cause mainly by powerful winds and flying debris.In a strong tornado the windows will usually break anyway and the building will likely take heavy damage regardless.It may in fact be better to leave windows closed, as in a weak tornado or a glancing blow the windows may hold up and prevent strong winds from entering a building and causing damage inside.Finally, if you are threatened by a tornado you should get to safety immediately and stay away from windows. Trying to open windows only wastes time and puts you at a greater risk.
Does low pressure in a tornado cause buildings to explode as the tornado passes overhead?
No. The pressure drop inside a tornado is not enough to cause buildings to explode. Tornadoes tear buildings apart with wind and debris.
What is true low pressure with a tornado causes building to explode?
No, low pressure in a tornado does not cause buildings to explode. That is a common myth.
It can explode buildings because of sudden air pressure shifts?
Tornados
Would low pressure tornado cause buildings to explode as the tornado passes overhead?
No. This was once believed but has since been disproven. The pressure drop inside a tornado is insufficient to cause significant damage. Damage is caused instead by the wind in the tornado and debris carried by it. Even in a tornado of moderate intensity, this damage would put enough holes in a building to equalize pressure rather quickly.
Does a tornado's air pressure make houses explode?
No. It was once believed that the low pressure inside a tornado would cause houses to explode, but this notion was disproven by the 1990s. It is the wind and debris in a tornado that destroys houses, not the low pressure.
Does low pressure cause buildings to expload when a tornado passes overhead?
No, that is a complete myth. It is the wind and debris in a tornado that destroys buildings. First the pressure drop is not enough to cause significant damage to a building. The largest reliably recorded pressure drop in a tornado was 100 millibars, but a pressure difference of about 350 millibars is needed to destroy most buildings. Second, buildings are not airtight so pressure will equalize quickly. Third, even if the two statements above were not true the winds and debris in moderate to strong tornado would create enough holes to equalize pressure, if not destroy the building before the center of the tornado (where the lowest pressure is) reaches it. A tornado with a 100 millibar pressure drop would produce winds strong enough to completely level most structures.
Does a tornado's low air pressure often make houses explode?
No. Tornadoes tear houses apart with wind and debris. The notion that the low pressure inside a tornado makes houses explode has been disproven.
Does a tornado's low air pressure make houses explode?
No. The pressure drop inside a tornado is not large enough for this to happen. Tornadoes tear houses apart with the power of their wind.
Why is it best to leave a window slightly open during a wind storm?
It actually isn't best do do this. It was once thought that during a tornado the rapid drop in pressure could cause buildings to explode. This notion has been disproven. It is wind and debris, not the pressured drop, that causes damage during a tornado. Even in a strong tornado the pressure drop is not enough to cause significant damage.
Why are people in a building threatened by a tornado told to open their windows to minimize damage?
This is based on the old and now disproven idea that the low pressure inside a tornado caused buildings to explode. The idea holds that as a tornado passes over, the pressure outside drops radily, while pressure remains high inside the building, and that opening windows would relieve this pressure difference. This idea has been disproven, and officials now advise against opening windows during a tornado. There are several reasons for this. First, the pressure drop inside a tornado is not large enough to inflict any significant damage on a stroncutre. Second, buildings are not airtight, and pressure will equalize fairly quickly. If a tornado is strong enough to cause significant damage, the windows will likely break anyway Tornadoes cause damage through wind and debris, not through pressure drop. It has actually been shown that if the tornado is weak enough that windows remain intact, or if the worst of the tornado misses, opening windows allows wind to enter the building and cause damage on the inside. Additionally, opening windows wastes precious time that should be spent getting to a safe place.
Does tornadoes low air pressure often make houes explode?
No. That is a myth. The fast-moving winds and flying debris of a tornado are what destroy houses. The pressure difference produced by a tornado is not enough to cause significant damage, and is equalized pretty quickly anyway.
Why are people in buildings threatened by a tornado told to open windows to minimize damage?
This is based on the outdated belief that the low pressure inside a tornado causes buildings to essentially explode and that opening windows relieves this pressure difference.This is simply not true.First, evidence so far shows that the pressure inside tornadoes in not low enough to cause damage in such a way.Second, buildings are not airtight so the pressure difference will be relived fairly easily anyway.Tornado damage is cause mainly by powerful winds and flying debris.In a strong tornado the windows will usually break anyway and the building will likely take heavy damage regardless.It may in fact be better to leave windows closed, as in a weak tornado or a glancing blow the windows may hold up and prevent strong winds from entering a building and causing damage inside.Finally, if you are threatened by a tornado you should get to safety immediately and stay away from windows. Trying to open windows only wastes time and puts you at a greater risk.
