Eli5: why isn’t a plane experiencing turbulence considered dangerous?
In: Engineering
Extreme Turbulence is dangerous to both the plane and the passengers.
Most people have never experienced extreme turbulence. You’ll know you’ve been through extreme turbulence when there are ambulances when you land.
The reason why turbulence isn’t dangerous (in reference to your question I presume you mean from the perspective of the plane) is because the plane is designed to survive extreme turbulence and then some extra. The wings are designed to flex to 45⁰+ without loosing structural integrity or deforming.
Speed bumps won’t destroy your car, your car is designed to handle that shock at parking lot speed and then some. Now imagine what it would look like to hit a parking lot full of speed bumps at 300MPH, not exactly great for the car or the passengers, that’s the kind of violence the plane is designed to withstand and keep flying.
It is dangerous if it’s severe but the amount of turbulence you normally experience during a flight is not a risk to the plane. It’s not going to damage the plane and even if it’s points the nose of the plane sharply downwards, there’s nothing to crash into. You’re 35,000 feet in the air. You literally have like 5 minutes of descent before you get back to the ground. It’s the equivalent of the small bumps you run over on the highway. A huge one could damage your car but you can go over small ones all day without issue.
The main risk of turbulence is people falling or the overhead compartments opening and having things fall out, which is why they will sometimes have you return to your seat when there is turbulence.
In terms of the plane itself, it’s designed with materials that can withstand the stress and fatigue that turbulence brings. Manufacturers are extremely strict in this industry and add a large safety factor to every possible stress point of the plane. They also undergo routine checks and analysis for significant wear after each flight (because not every component can last forever)
Why isn’t a car going over bumps in he road considered dangerous?
It’s not dangerous for the PLANE. It could potentially be dangerous for the soft, squishy PEOPLE inside the plane, though. That’s why it’s suggested that you keep your seat belt fastend when you are in your seat. Turbulence can occur 5 if it’s sever enough, it could cause injuries from people getting banged around.
Air is like a “liquid”—turbulence in the sky isnt much different than waves in the ocean. Some swells here and there aren’t going to capsize your boat; some mild turbulence isn’t going to crash your plane.
For the same reason that a boat on the ocean can go up and down with the waves. Planes are under the same physics, and designed to stay structurally sound under basic turbulence, which is just different air currents moving under it. Just like waves.
You are on a plane going through turbulence. You look out the window and see the wings deflecting up and down. You want to freak out. Instead, just smile to yourself because, if they didn’t do that, they’d probably break off. They are designed to deflect like that. Snug up your seatbelt and get back to your movie. All is good.
No large passenger plane in the history of aviation has ever crashed because of turbulence.
[EDIT] Whoops! I stand corrected, just one did. [/edit]
Do you consider a boat going over a wave dangerous ?
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