One of the dangers of tornados and hurricanes is the rapid drop in air pressure that is associated with such storms. Assume that the air pressure inside of a sealed house is 1.02 atm when a hurricane hits. The hurricane rapidly decreases the external air pressure to 0.910 atm. A square window in an outside wall of the house measures 2.02 m on each side. What net force (directed outwards) is exerted on this window? (1 atm = 1.01 * 105 Pa.)

Question

Physics

Emery Morris

24 February, 16:08

One of the dangers of tornados and hurricanes is the rapid drop in air pressure that is associated with such storms. Assume that the air pressure inside of a sealed house is 1.02 atm when a hurricane hits. The hurricane rapidly decreases the external air pressure to 0.910 atm. A square window in an outside wall of the house measures 2.02 m on each side. What net force (directed outwards) is exerted on this window? (1 atm = 1.01 * 105 Pa.)

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Answers (1)

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Gunnar Tyler · Answer 1

F = 8.25 10⁴ N

Explanation:

The definition of pressure is

P = F / A

F = P A

Let's use Newton's second law in the window

F = F₁ - F₂

F = P₁ A - P₂ A

F = (P₁ - P₂) A

The area of a square window is

A = L²

F = (P₁ - P₂) L²

Let's reduce the magnitudes to the SI system

P₁ = 1.2 atm (1.01 10⁵ Pa / 1 atm) = 1.212 10⁵ Pa

P₂ = 0.910 10⁵ atm = 0.9191 10⁵ Pa

Let's calculate

F = (1.1212 - 0.9191) 10⁵ 2.02²

F = 0.8246 10⁵ N

F = 8.25 10⁴ N