Final answer:
The claim that the center of a tornado is in hydrostatic balance is false. The center, or the eye, of a tornado experiences a relative calm due to weak winds with tangential velocity inversely proportional to the radius of curvature, not hydrostatic balance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that in the center of a tornado, the air is believed to be in hydrostatic balance is false. The eye of a tornado, which is indeed the center of rotation, does experience a relative calm compared to the violent winds at the periphery. However, this does not imply hydrostatic balance, which would require the force of gravity to be balanced by the upward pressure force, a condition that does not hold true in the dynamics of a tornado.
Tornadoes showcase rotational motion and are intensely low-pressure systems formed from severe thunderstorms. Characterized by their funnel-like shape, these storms have escaping air in the center due to intense low pressure, and as a result, the winds near the eye are weaker. This is because the tangential velocity of the wind is inversely proportional to the radius of curvature; the closer you get to the center (smaller radius), the lower the tangential velocity becomes.