Question

The physical principle of a spinning tornado is _________________.

A. conservation of linear momentum
B. conservation of kinetic energy
C. conservation of potential energy
D. conservation of angular momentum
E. All of the choices are correct.

Answer 1

A tornado's spinning is explained by the conservation of angular momentum, which is conserved when there is no external torque, similar to a figure skater spinning faster by pulling in their limbs.

Step-by-step explanation:

The physical principle of a spinning tornado is conservation of angular momentum. This concept is fundamental in physics and is closely related to how a figure skater increases her rate of spin by pulling in her limbs. As the radii of the spinning air masses within a tornado decrease, their rotation rate increases due to the conservation of angular momentum, which is conserved when net external torque is zero. Angular momentum, energy, charge, and linear momentum are conserved in isolated systems, according to physics conservation laws.