We can model a pine tree in the forest as having a compact canopy at the top of a relatively bare trunk. wind blowing on the top of the tree exerts a horizontal force, and thus a torque that can topple the tree if there is no opposing torque. suppose a tree's canopy presents an area of 9.0 m^2 to the wind centered at a height of 7.0 m above the ground. (these are reasonable values for forest trees.)
if the wind blows at 6.5 m/s, what is the magnitude of the drag force of the wind on the canopy? assume a drag coefficient of 0.50 and the density of air of 1.2 kg/m^3what torque does this force exert on the tree, measured about the point where the trunk meets the ground?