Final answer:
Structures with weak stories are typically limited by building codes to two stories or fewer in height. The example provided estimates a building's height by comparing it to the average height of an adult, leading to the estimation of 4 meters per story in a 39-story building.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question concerns building codes related to structural engineering, specifically regarding limitations on the height of buildings with weak stories. A weak story is a level that is significantly less stiff or strong than the stories above or below it, which can be dangerous in the event of seismic activity or other forces acting on the building. By code, structures with weak stories are typically limited in height due to the increased risk of collapse. In practice, the code may restrict such buildings to two stories or fewer in height.
Using the given information as a reference, suppose we have a building with 39 stories. If one story is about as tall as two average adults standing on each other's shoulders, we can estimate the average height per story to be approximately 4 meters (2 meters per adult). Therefore, the total height of the building would be around 156 meters (39 stories x 4 meters per story).