Pressure: One of the dangers of tornados and hurricanes is the rapid drop in air pressure that is associated with such storms. Assume that the air pressure inside of a sealed house is 1.02 atm when a hurricane hits. The hurricane rapidly decreases the external air pressure to 0.910 atm. A square window in an outside wall of the house measures 2.02 m on each side. What net force (directed outwards) is exerted on this window? (1 atm = 1.01 × 10⁵ Pa.)

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The net force on the window is the difference between the force due to the internal air pressure and the force due to the external air pressure. The force due to the internal air pressure is:$$F_i = P_i A = (1.02 	imes 1.01 	imes 10^5 	ext{ Pa})(2.02 	ext{ m})^2 = 4.12 	imes 10^5 	ext{ N}$$The force due to the external air pressure is:$$F_e = P_e A = (0.910 	imes 1.01 	imes 10^5 	ext{ Pa})(2.02 	ext{ m})^2 = 3.69 	imes 10^5 	ext{ N}$$The net force on the window is:$$F_{net} = F_i - F_e = 4.12 	imes 10^5 	ext{ N} - 3.69 	imes 10^5 	ext{ N} = 4.53 	imes 10^4 	ext{ N}$$

Pressure: One of the Dangers of Tornados and Hurricanes Is