[TowerTalk] Little things can make a difference

[Dan Zimmerman N3OX]

>
> OTOH I still have trouble comprehending something with such little mass

hitting with so much force


Weigh your tube, calculate it's kinetic energy 0.5 * mass * velocity ^2
right before impact and comparing that to the muzzle energy of a bullet.

I think the kinetic energy of  a .375 inch diameter 10 foot long aluminum
tube with a .058  inch wall (308 grams by Texas Towers' weight list)  going
88 miles per hour compares favorably with a .38 special's muzzle energy,
provided you ignore the aerodynamic drag of the tube.

Of course, you can't really ignore the drag in many of the "falling object
is like a bullet" problems, but still... gives you an idea of what would
happen if your tower were in a vacuum :-)

73
Dan