Tornado Damage!
Students learn about tornados and their damage.Copyright Greg Henshall / FEMA http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:FEMA_-_30070_-_Greensburg_High_School_tornado_damage_in_Kansas.jpg
Students learn about tornadoes, the damage they cause, and how to rate tornadoes. Specifically, students investigate the Enhanced Fujita Damage Scale of tornado intensity, and use it to complete a mock engineering analysis of damage caused by a tornado. Additional consideration is given to tornado warning systems and how these systems can be improved to be safer. Lastly, students learn basic tornado safety procedures.
Engineers learn from failures to improve structures for recurring events and natural disasters, such as tornados. Engineers also invent scales or systems to use as measurement tools. For example, engineers use the Enhanced Fujita Damage Scale (EF-Scale) to classify tornadoes based on measured wind speeds and degree of damage to certain types of structures. In order to improve the lives of those in the path of natural disasters, engineers implement a two-pronged approach to safety. First, advanced warning systems are in place to give people more time to react to impending disaster. Also, due to the fact that it is impossible to ensure that people are never in the path of a tornado or hurricane, engineers conduct post-disaster damage analysis in order to improve structures and better safeguard against property damage and injury.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Understand that windstorms and tornadoes affect humans by causing property damage and loss of life.
- Understand and use the Enhanced Fujita Tornado Damage Scale of tornado intensity rates.
- Understand that engineers develop early-warning systems to give those in the path of tornados additional time to respond and get to safety.
- Understand that engineers use damage analysis to develop better procedures and stronger structures to withstand tornadoes.