Reply #26: jgraz: What's the alternate hypothesis? --the 5th Grade Giggle-fit test.

[MervinFerd]

Ok, the collapse "doesn't look right" (but how many collapsing skyscrapers have you seen, and how -should- one look?).

But, what's the alternate hypothesis? And can that hypothesis pass the "Fifth grade giggle-fit test": Would the alternate theory cause a moderately bright Fifth Grader to break into an uncontrolled giggle-fit? If so, it probably isn't a serious theory.

So, what's the alternative? By what mechanism do you cause a 110 story building to fall some way other than a "natural structural failure"? What -mechanism- could cause the building to fall at a speed "equal or greater than free fall? Blowing out all the supports on 80-odd floors? How many explosive charges does that require? How many -tons- of explosive are required to "pulverize" all the concrete in the building? How do all those charges get placed with nobody noticing? What kind of control system can set them off in the precise order necessary? Why-on-earth would anyone do such a stupid thing?

As I say, if you can't come up with a story that passes the "giggle-fit-test" it's probably not worth worrying about.



FWIW, in a controlled demolition, charges are placed at the bottom of the building only and the building just collapses under its own weight. It's a 'natural collapse' except for the initial event. Just like the WTC towers. Except that the initial collapse of the towers was on the 80th floor.