Final answer:
The upward force in tons from a pressure difference on a roof of a 1.15 x 10^3 sq. ft. single-story home in an F5 tornado is approximately 0.225 tons.
Step-by-step explanation:
The upward force on a roof due to a pressure difference can be calculated using the Bernoulli's equation. Bernoulli's equation states that the pressure difference between two points is equal to the difference in kinetic energy per unit volume. In this case, we can use the formula:
F = A * (P2 - P1)
where F is the force, A is the area of the roof, P2 is the atmospheric pressure outside the tornado, and P1 is the pressure inside the tornado. To convert the force to tons, we can divide it by the weight of 1 ton, which is approximately 2000 pounds. Therefore, the upward force in tons is:
F (tons) = (A * (P2 - P1)) / (2000 * 144)
Substituting the given values:
F (tons) = (1.15 x 10^3 * (8.89 x 10^4 - 0)) / (2000 * 144)
Calculating the expression:
F (tons) = 0.225 tons