Question

If an F3 tornado has winds of 162 miles per hour, what is the minimum increase in wind speed required for it to become an F4 tornado with winds above 200 miles per hour?

A. 38 mph
B. 40 mph
C. 42 mph
D. 44 mph

Answer 1

The minimum increase in wind speed required for an F3 tornado with winds of 162 mph to upgrade to an F4 tornado is 38 mph.

Step-by-step explanation:

If an F3 tornado has winds of 162 miles per hour, to determine the minimum increase in wind speed required for it to become an F4 tornado with winds above 200 miles per hour, we simply subtract the F3 tornado's wind speed from the lower boundary of the F4 tornado's wind speed.

The calculation is as follows:
Minimum wind speed for F4 tornado - Wind speed of F3 tornado = Minimum increase in wind speed required for F3 to become F4.

200 mph - 162 mph = 38 mph.

Therefore, the minimum increase in wind speed needed is 38 mph.