Walking on flat ground.
Has it happened to you. Only once to me.
2006-12-07 23:35:03 · 4 answers · asked by Perseus 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
I don't know about being "lifted off the ground", but the Beaufort scale (first source, below) lists "hurricane strength" winds at 74-110mph, at which point most people are unable to remain standing without holding onto something.
Once you fall down, your body becomes much more aerodynamic so I'm not sure it's meaningful to ask what wind speed will lift a standing person off the ground. This is really a two part question - "what wind speed will knock a person down" and, "what wind speed will lift a 12-stone person off the ground"
The answer to that second question appears to be somewhere around 150-200mph, according to the tornado FAQ (see source below).
Personally, I've never experienced this. Been close a couple times. You know, actually able to lean into a strong wind (50mph or so). But nothing more than that.
2006-12-07 23:53:34 · answer #1 · answered by br00fa 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If the wind was travelling horizontally, wouldn't it knock you over backwards instead? People naturally lean into the wind, so you'd have to work out what wind speed would rotate you about your feet, against the moment created by your weight. You could get a ballpark figure that way, must be more than 40mph anyway as has never happened to me.
2006-12-08 07:51:10 · answer #2 · answered by CT 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Would depend on your aerodynamacy, such as sitting at the time, standing, walking, running, what your wearing, how wide you are, how tall you are, the list goes on.
How long is a piece of string?
2006-12-08 07:39:20 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Dunno... but I broke wind this morning and it cleared the office in seconds!
2006-12-08 07:36:40 · answer #4 · answered by jonti 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋