Final answer:
During a hurricane, the atmospheric pressure difference between the inside and outside of a house can cause the roof to lift off, which is explained by Bernoulli's principle. The correct answer is C) The difference in pressure contributes to structural failure. Understanding atmospheric pressure is essential for both safety reasons and structural considerations during strong wind events.
Step-by-step explanation:
C) The difference in pressure between the inside and outside of the house contributes to structural failure. The phenomenon where the atmospheric pressure inside a house may blow off the roof during a hurricane can be explained by Bernoulli's principle, which relates to different forms of energy in a fluid. When a hurricane occurs, there is a significant drop in atmospheric pressure due to the formation of strong wind currents when air moves from a high-pressure area to a region of low pressure. Bernoulli's principle demonstrates that as the wind speed outside the house increases, the pressure decreases (a concept known as the Bernoulli effect). If the atmospheric pressure inside the house remains higher than the reduced pressure outside, the difference in pressure can cause the roof to lift off or the building to experience structural failure.Hurricanes and tornadoes can cause roofs to be blown off buildings due to the difference in pressure between the inside and outside of the structure. This phenomenon can be explained using Bernoulli's principle, which states that as the speed of a fluid (or air) increases, its pressure decreases. In the case of a hurricane or tornado, the high wind speeds outside the house result in a lower pressure compared to the relatively calm conditions inside. This creates a pressure difference that can cause the roof to lift or the building to explode outward.
Therefore, the correct answer to the student's question is C) The difference in pressure between the inside and outside of the house contributes to structural failure. Options A and B may seem plausible, but they do not directly involve the atmospheric pressure difference, and option D is incorrect because hurricanes do not have a levitation capability. Hurricanes have strong winds that can exceed 50 m/s, which, according to the cube of wind velocity, greatly increases their destructive power compared to a light breeze.Understanding the power of hurricanes and atmospheric pressure dynamics is crucial not only in structural considerations but also when considering why it's dangerous to stand near railroad tracks during the passage of a rapidly moving train. As the train passes, it displaces air and creates an area of low pressure, which can cause a person standing close by to be pulled toward the train due to the higher atmospheric pressure behind them, demonstrating the principle that air flows toward regions of low pressure.