I'm trying to settle a bet whether a drop cloth 9'x12' or 10'x15'
weighing 8 oz. per square yard (6 lbs. and 10 lbs. respectively?)
could be lifted onto a roof with a gust of wind registering 20mph or
25mph. The loser pays for the question's answer.  Thanks!

---

Clarification of Question by jkastl-ga on 19 Dec 2005 15:36 PST

the 20 or 25 mph wind exerted on BOTH drop cloths (not 20 for the 6lb
and 25 for the 10lb.).  thanks!

---

Clarification of Question by jkastl-ga on 19 Dec 2005 15:46 PST

sorry, but the maximum gust of wind was 34.41 mph on the day in
question with a sustained gust of wind for that day at 22 mph.  is
this even possible to lift a drop cloth with that small of a wind???

---

Clarification of Question by jkastl-ga on 21 Dec 2005 21:31 PST

wow.  i can't believe know one knows this.  or even can take a stab at it.  unreal.

Yes, easily, but some physics-savvy person will have to justify my
opinion with a calculation of wind speed and surface area.
By the way, how did you measure that gust to the second decimal point?

wind gust to the second decimal point had been published from the
records of the tower at the nearest airport.

Pretend we measure our wind pressure in PSI. That means that to lift
the 6 pound cloth which has 139968 square inches then the pressure on
the cloth would only need to be .000042 PSI. (rough estimate)

On this sight
http://www.vent-axia.com/sharing/windflow.asp
I found a chart tha thas 24 MPH and the pressure in Pascals.

at 24 MPH the pressure is 73.926 pascals.

73.926 pascals is 0.01071927 PSI. WAY WAY more than you need.