HOW THE NORTH TOWER FELL
Before you throw out the Sunday Times, make sure you check out the very fine graphic in the back of the B section that illustrates the leading theory explaining how the north tower collapsed. It's in the "A Nation Challenged" section, attached to a story by James Glanz. It explains how the weight load was transferred in an arch around the impact site, allowing more people to escape the tower. It was only when the heat exceeded 1,100 degrees that specific elements of the building began to melt and trigger the chain reaction that brought the tower down, "with the upper floors striking the ground at an estimated 120 miles per hour."
- posted by Amy @ 11/12/2001 12:34:00 PM