I have a limited, sophomoric understanding of physics. But what happened last night seems impossible. The wind was strong all night. A great, unseen staccato of gusts shook the house, flickered the power, and moved my trash can. But not only moved it. Guided it through a Borgesian labyrinth to the front of the house, nestling it in a cement corner of the house and steps.
I have drawn this phenomenon to scale, with the Trash Can represented in light blue, and the two possible paths in black and yellow:
I have drawn this phenomenon to scale, with the Trash Can represented in light blue, and the two possible paths in black and yellow:
Now the black line is the course I believe the trash can took. The yellow line represents the more plausible course. However, this feels more implausible when one considers the dynamics of navigation required amidst the wind tunnel between the two houses, the degree of the right angle and lack of space between the two cars. However, the black line is also unlikely given the fact that the gate (two barn-type, shoulder-length doors), represented in brown, opens towards the cars and the space between the red car and the house, while enough exists, hardly merits the likelihood of successful of travel without setting off the car alarm.Yet it did happen. And I, in my socks and t-shirt and jeans, pondered it at great length in the aria of wind singing around the house this morning. I traced the possible paths while holding the Trash Can. Measured the breadth of passage between all the necessary straits...
It is indeed a most curious case.
3 comments:
Lucky it did'nt go though a window
This type of phenomenon has been known to happen when winds of such speed interact with the design of homes and the juxtaposition of secondary causal factos. Science does have a name for it:
High Wind Directionary Movement
You are lucky that it was only the trash cans. Heavy objects such as casrs and homes make shake, rattle and at times, roll but lesser weighter objects are at the mercy of the wind. Other reports show birds ending up as hood ornaments, cats splayed against bay windows, dogs have even been seen moon walking to avoid the wind's intensity. For more information, go to www.HighWind.com. Sometimes it is known as 'breaking wind,' but it is seldom used due to other connotations.
this is hilarious! (k for gilhouse) the drawn to scale graphic is my favorite touch. :)
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