Tornadoes - Right or Wrong?

Question

The great difference between the air pressure in buildings and the air pressure in a tornado can make buildings explode.

I would appreciate constructive criticism as I made this comment in one of my answers.

If I am wrong, I apologise.

Answer 1

I would think it would be like having buttsecks with a L*****n

Answer 2

First the wind takes the roof off, then the walls collapse.

Answer 3

Well, if the pressure difference on the outside of the building is extremely high and very low pressure inside, then that building could implode.  Collapse inward.   Reverse the effect with enough pressure inside and low outside,  it would explode.

Answer 4

You are absolutely correct! What destroys a building when a tornado passes over is the differential pressure between the air inside the building and the fast spinning air pressure inside the tornado, which according to fluids dynamics laws results in drastic decrease in pressure of the spinning air.

This difference in pressure is the cause for pulling off the roof of the building due to the generated force from the difference in pressure between the air inside of the building and the spinning air passing over the building while the tornado sweeps above it. Actually, a slight difference in pressure can cause the roof to be plucked off the building and turn the whole building down. If the roof has an area of 100 square meters, then a difference of 1000 N/m^2 would result in a force equals to 100000 N between the air inside and the air outside. In reality, what cause the building to explode, or the roof to fly off the building is the force of the air pressure inside the building. If the pressure on the outside is slightly less than the pressure of air in the inside, and depending on the force of the concrete used, if a fast spinning tornado crosses the building which causes a stress beyond design limits, then the roof will fly in the sky!

Answer 5

So wrong, air pressure has nothing to do with the destruction of a building, it's the debris that is thrown around by the tornado that causes the most damage and destruction.

Answer 6

This was once thought to be correct, but in truth it is not. The Winds in the Tornado is what makes buildings explode, not the variants of pressure inside the building and in the tornado.

Also google this question: What makes Buildings Explode during a tornado? You will get the correct answer.

Answer 7

Buildings do not "explode" at all as a result of being struck by a tornado.  There are changes in air pressure, but this is not the reason for destruction.  It's more a result of extreme wind speeds and directional changes.  

Many theories come up as a result of different tornado videos that are made public.  Most are then taught as fact by local media, which is usually not the case.  An example is when all the media used to say hide in an underpass based on one lucky event.  

I find that ignoring the idiots on TV is the smartest way to go.