regarding that Superdome, earlier there was discussion of the variance of the winds destructiveness with windspeed. I noted that the power was cubed with speed. I may have been confused, but I rechecked a wind power seb source and found this:
"An important equation used to find the wind power density, how much power is available per square meter is the equation
P = .5 pu³
, where P is the wind power density in W/m2, p is the density of the air, and u³ is the cube of the wind velocity.
An equation for the power available is :
(kinetic energy flux) = .5 p V(3) A---(that is V cubed).
, where p is the kinetic energy density J/m³, V is the velocity of the wind, A is the cross sectional area of the wind on the turbine."
It seems to me, the energy of the wind is related to the cube of the velocity. I would naturally assume that the destructiveness will be related directly to that kinetic energy.
Power is proportional to velocity cubed.
Drag is proportional to velocity squared.
141 mph is twice as big a wind load as 100 mph.
WWL interviewing a FEMA? official. Official says 26,000 at the Super Dome.
Agreed, once started, the power (force times distance) question comes into play. But the force of my half-ton ass on the couch provides -no- power until the couch is broken. Meanwhile, I am dead weight, and (only) if enough weight, I break the couch.
Imagine a 1cm3 block moving at 1cm/sec through stationary air. In 1sec it moves 1cm3 of air out of the way. Effectively it moves it 1cm sideways.
The energy of that mass of air being moved is 1/2mv. The power is E/t=E/(1sec).
Since E=F*d, where d-distance:
F=E/d = m/2*v2/1cm
That means the force on 1cm2, or any area is proportional to v2
Just as the E is.