QuietDom
Posts: 255
Joined: 7/10/2004 Status: offline
|
As much as I don't want to get involved in this discussion, it is curious that the conspiracy theorist's math depends on the force required to pulverize concrete into an aerosol. One would think that smashing it to rubble would be quite sufficient to enable the pancaking, and not need so much energy. In addition, the figure for the gravitiational potential energy of the tower reflects the structure alone. The actual masses involved are those of the tower structure, PLUS one large airplane, its cargo and its passengers, PLUS 110 floors worth of furniture, partitions and so forth. If you consider those masses to be negligible, go pick up a concrete block. Heavy isn't it? Now pick up a standard 3-drawer filing cabinet full of files -- not so negligible, is it, even relative to concrete? All that aside, the best explanation I've heard for conspiracy theories says that they are comforting. We live in a world where significant things can just happen from minor causes. One nutball can kill a popular president. A handful of fanatics can destroy skyscrapers. If those things can happen, then something awful could happen to you tomorrow, by freak chance, and you'd never see it coming. To the conspiracy theorist (says this account) the world feels much safer if you believe that all major or significant events are controlled by people -- some shadowy and all-powerful cabal somewhere. Thinking that the people in charge are secretive and malevolent is still not as scary as the truth that nobody is truly in charge. [EDIT] Grim as it is, there's one more mass to consider. Thousands of adult humans, averaging perhaps 150lbs each.
< Message edited by QuietDom -- 8/25/2007 12:37:37 PM >
|