Peer reviewed
Direct linkERIC Number: EJ896424
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2010-Jul
Pages: 6
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0143-0807
EISSN: N/A
How Fast Does a Building Fall?
Denny, Mark
European Journal of Physics, v31 n4 p943-948 Jul 2010
In this paper, the time required for a tower block to collapse is calculated. The tower collapses progressively, with one floor falling onto the floor below, causing it to fall. The rate of collapse is found to be not much slower than freefall. The calculation is an engaging and relevant application of Newton's laws, suitable for undergraduate teaching. (Contains 2 footnotes and 2 figures.)
Descriptors: Structural Elements (Construction), Mechanics (Physics), Science Instruction, Motion, Computation, Scientific Principles, College Science, Undergraduate Study
Institute of Physics Publishing. The Public Ledger Building Suite 929, 150 South Independence Mall West, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 215-627-0880; Fax: 215-627-0879; e-mail: info@ioppubusa.com; Web site: http://www.iop.org/EJ/journal/EJP
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: Teachers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
