# Who cares to debate the events of 9/11/2001 based upon the laws of physics? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 14, 2017, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-to-debate-the-events-of-9-11-2001-based-upon-the-laws-of-physics/798861 "2017-10-14T21:40:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 55
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2017, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-to-debate-the-events-of-9-11-2001-based-upon-the-laws-of-physics/798861/1081 "2017-10-17T19:25:24Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > He’s accepted that things fall down in the presence of gravity. Half item. We haven’t agreed what it _means._ 😉 Still, excellent effort. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2017, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-to-debate-the-events-of-9-11-2001-based-upon-the-laws-of-physics/798861/1082 "2017-10-17T19:59:41Z")
Not even so much as a, “By your leave…”, or, “You’ll miss me when I’m gone!” Should we organize a search party? Perhaps alert the authorities and the media? He can’t have simply vanished, like a hot knife through butter … what? ---
**Author:** ![purple\_cow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b487fb/32.png) [@purple\_cow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purple_cow)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2017, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-to-debate-the-events-of-9-11-2001-based-upon-the-laws-of-physics/798861/1083 "2017-10-17T20:14:19Z")
My general rule on things like this is: if 99% of people think something is true but you don’t believe it, you MAY be a genius, but you’re probably just wrong. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2017, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-to-debate-the-events-of-9-11-2001-based-upon-the-laws-of-physics/798861/1084 "2017-10-17T20:18:20Z")
> [@purple\_cow](#): > > My general rule on things like this is: if 99% of people think something is true but you don’t believe it, you MAY be a genius, but you’re probably just wrong. gawd … ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2017, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-to-debate-the-events-of-9-11-2001-based-upon-the-laws-of-physics/798861/1085 "2017-10-17T20:23:50Z")
> [@purple\_cow](#): > > My general rule on things like this is: if 99% of people think something is true but you don’t believe it, you MAY be a genius, but you’re probably just wrong. It was amusing when it was pointed out that most experts ( and laymen, frankly) disagreed with his asessment of how the plane should have acted when it hit the tower he immediately went whining and pointing at AE911T… …who give zero indication that they agree with his asessment of what the planes should have done when they hit the tower. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2017, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-to-debate-the-events-of-9-11-2001-based-upon-the-laws-of-physics/798861/1086 "2017-10-17T21:19:32Z")
I’m still unclear what he thinks should have happened to the planes, although I suspect he has an idea that an aluminum airframe would somehow act like aluminum foil and simply crumple when it hit a wall. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2017, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-to-debate-the-events-of-9-11-2001-based-upon-the-laws-of-physics/798861/1087 "2017-10-17T21:22:51Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#): > > I’m still unclear what he thinks should have happened to the planes, although I suspect he has an idea that an aluminum airframe would somehow act like aluminum foil and simply crumple when it hit a wall. I think the OP believed it would be like an empty beer can hitting a block wall. It would crumple in, maybe denting the outside of the building and breaking a few windows, perhaps going into the first office, exploding on impact with the fireball outside the building, then falling down the building in a fireball of burning plane debris and falling bodies and luggage. Perhaps to fall right on a coyote with an umbrella for protection… ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2017, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-to-debate-the-events-of-9-11-2001-based-upon-the-laws-of-physics/798861/1088 "2017-10-17T21:55:07Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > In conjunction with the Trilateral Commission, the Elders of Zion, Skull & Bones, the Freemasons and the Rothschilds, with technical assistance from the CIA, Interpol and ФСБ. They had access to military-grade hardware and supercomputers that far outpaced even what Hollywood can get their hands on today. And it was all scripted out in Agenda 21. What? No mention of the [orbital mind control lasers](https://cf.geekdo-images.com/images/pic754182_md.jpg)? ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2017, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-to-debate-the-events-of-9-11-2001-based-upon-the-laws-of-physics/798861/1089 "2017-10-17T22:05:37Z")
What if we launched the plane from a treadmill/conveyor belt? Would that be enough to cut a skyscraper in half? ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2017, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-to-debate-the-events-of-9-11-2001-based-upon-the-laws-of-physics/798861/1090 "2017-10-17T22:10:50Z")
> [@XT](#): > > I think the OP believed it would be like an empty beer can hitting a block wall. It would crumple in, maybe denting the outside of the building and breaking a few windows, perhaps going into the first office, exploding on impact with the fireball outside the building, then falling down the building in a fireball of burning plane debris and falling bodies and luggage. Perhaps to fall right on a coyote with an umbrella for protection… I thought this too. But someone did bring up the beer can analogy, and I don’t think JJ ever responded to it. But yes, I think many people are under the misconception that airplanes are very, very weak. [Here is a youtube of a 777 undergoing destructive testing of the wings](https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?fr=yfp-t&p=youtube+airplane+wing+stress+test#id=2&vid=05a48cc7b0f85ecd77124464650e0fce&action=view). No not the same stresses that would occur slamming into a building, but I find it interesting. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2017, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-to-debate-the-events-of-9-11-2001-based-upon-the-laws-of-physics/798861/1091 "2017-10-17T22:16:36Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > I thought this too. But someone did bring up the beer can analogy, and I don’t think JJ ever responded to it. But yes, I think many people are under the misconception that airplanes are very, very weak. > > [Here is a youtube of a 777 undergoing destructive testing of the wings](https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?fr=yfp-t&p=youtube+airplane+wing+stress+test#id=2&vid=05a48cc7b0f85ecd77124464650e0fce&action=view). No not the same stresses that would occur slamming into a building, but I find it interesting. [channeling **Jay\_Jay**] Irrelevent, the alleged airplane was a 7 **6** 7 and this test is fake. Anyway, what about 64% of freefall and 36% weight? [/c **j\_j**] ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2017, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-to-debate-the-events-of-9-11-2001-based-upon-the-laws-of-physics/798861/1092 "2017-10-17T22:45:19Z")
The OP has posted about 246 replies to this thread over about 2.7 days and has now become completely silent for over 8 hours. I suspect he is off looking for more vulnerable minds to fuck with. We should probably pronounce this thread dead. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2017, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-to-debate-the-events-of-9-11-2001-based-upon-the-laws-of-physics/798861/1093 "2017-10-17T22:47:31Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > The OP has posted about 246 replies to this thread over about 2.7 days and has now become completely silent for over 8 hours. I suspect he is off looking for more vulnerable minds to fuck with. We should probably pronounce this thread dead. I suspect he’s trying to find his meth dealer. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2017, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-to-debate-the-events-of-9-11-2001-based-upon-the-laws-of-physics/798861/1094 "2017-10-17T22:50:23Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > The OP has posted about 246 replies to this thread over about 2.7 days and has now become completely silent for over 8 hours. I suspect he is off looking for more vulnerable minds to fuck with. We should probably pronounce this thread dead. Even the, er, logically creative have to sleep sometime, don’t they? ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2017, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-to-debate-the-events-of-9-11-2001-based-upon-the-laws-of-physics/798861/1095 "2017-10-17T22:58:32Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > I suspect he’s trying to find his meth dealer. Do not personalize arguments in this fashion. [/moderating] ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2017, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-to-debate-the-events-of-9-11-2001-based-upon-the-laws-of-physics/798861/1096 "2017-10-17T22:59:16Z")
Withdrawn. Appy-polly-logies. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2017, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-to-debate-the-events-of-9-11-2001-based-upon-the-laws-of-physics/798861/1097 "2017-10-17T23:28:33Z")
> [@XT](#): > > I think the OP believed it would be like an empty beer can hitting a block wall. It would crumple in, maybe denting the outside of the building and breaking a few windows, perhaps going into the first office, exploding on impact with the fireball outside the building, then falling down the building in a fireball of burning plane debris and falling bodies and luggage. Perhaps to fall right on a coyote with an umbrella for protection… I think that he honestly believes that when two objects crash into each other, the weaker one breaks, and the stronger one doesn’t. Period, no exceptions. He refuses to entertain the notion that sometimes, \*both \*of them break - or that there are other factors involved besides strength. ---
**Author:** ![galen\_ubal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galen_ubal/32/4440_2.png) [@galen\_ubal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen_ubal)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2017, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-to-debate-the-events-of-9-11-2001-based-upon-the-laws-of-physics/798861/1098 "2017-10-17T23:29:35Z")
**Jay\_Jay** , [Here’s a bunch of real-time reactions to the events of the day.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=86458) I think it speaks for itself. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2017, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-to-debate-the-events-of-9-11-2001-based-upon-the-laws-of-physics/798861/1099 "2017-10-17T23:31:05Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Excuse me but no Trinopus. That while the nose at impact as it was crushed penetrating the building encountered perhaps 100’s of g’s the wings certainly did not. Greater G’s would occur in the nose as it crumpled and PARTS of the airplane stopped while the rest of the plane continued. Think of crumple zones in cars. If the entire plane had encountered 100 g’s all at once, when the nose touched the building, it would have pretty much shattered. Like an icicle falling from a great height. > > And no, not enough fuel air mixture would occur to be ignited by either a short or wire or an engine to be seen before it entered the building a few milliseconds later. I apologize; I almost certainly misinterpreted what you wrote. I’m still doing that, because I do not understand your second paragraph here. Are you saying the fuel wasn’t ignited? It _sounds_ like it, and that’s what caused me to belabor your post. If not, I apologize again. ---
**Author:** ![HelenGawn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@HelenGawn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelenGawn)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2017, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-to-debate-the-events-of-9-11-2001-based-upon-the-laws-of-physics/798861/1100 "2017-10-17T23:42:47Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > What is seldom mentioned is the entire population of NYC is made up of crisis actors. This was in the works for a loooooooooooooooooong time. It’s true. Even the **Law & Order** empire can’t keep all the actors in New York fed. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-to-debate-the-events-of-9-11-2001-based-upon-the-laws-of-physics/798861.md?page=54) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-to-debate-the-events-of-9-11-2001-based-upon-the-laws-of-physics/798861.md?page=56)