[meteorite-list] Greensburg meteorite

From: cmcdon0923 at aol.com <cmcdon0923_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Mon, 07 May 2007 10:58:27 -0400
Message-ID: <8C95ECF4DB69446-524-1E666_at_webmail-da02.sysops.aol.com>

The tornado that destroyed Greensburg was rated as an F5....the most powerful class of tornado. The MINIMUM wind speed of an F5 is 261 mph....and up to 318 mhp.
 
Much less powerful tornados pick up cars and trucks weighing a ton or more and easily toss them over 100 yards/meters. So a "puny" little 1000 pound rock wouldn't present too much of a challenge.
 
Some basic information: http://www.tornadoproject.com/fscale/fscale.htm
 
 


> It could be tough to find. If a dense rock like that was in a field
> and a
> tornado went directly over it, it probably would not have moved at
> all.
> However, it was suspended in a building of comparably much lighter
> material
> with a large surface area. Collectively, when the building was ripped
> apart, it could have been launched a considerable distance. Having
> virtually
> no aerodynamic properties It is most likely within a 1/2 mile
> radius of
> where it was originally housed. It may even be embedded in the soft
> earth.

I agree with Charlie. I don't think it would be moved much, if any.
I think a wind greater than the terminal velocity of the object in
free fall would be needed to lift it, and that would be several
hundred miles per hour. If it is truly missing, I would be willing
to bet on theft.

Mike Fowler
Chicago
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Received on Mon 07 May 2007 10:58:27 AM PDT