Science in Scouting: Why tent and wind do not mix?

It's obvious we shouldn't set up a tent in a windy place. Ok, maybe a little wind won't do much harm. But what if the wind picked up speed?

Hmm... let's say you have no other choice but to build a tent in a windy place. How would you orientate it? Would you make the entrance of the tent face the wind, so that when you sleep, you'll have a natural air-conditioner?
(A)

Or would you rather make the wall of the tent face the wind? Hmm...
(B)

In situation (A), the wind is blowing through the tent. As you may know, fast moving air has lower pressure. Imagine if it was a typhoon (maybe you are camping in China at that moment???)



If the support structures are very flimsy, the pressure difference between the outside of the tent and the inside would cause it to collapse into itself. Uh oh, not good if you are having a good night sleep after one whole day of doing push ups.

Ok, maybe you happen to be in Situation B instead. What will happen? Well, that, I'm not so sure, but depending on your tent, the wind should probably go over the tent.



Unless of course, if it were to be a real typhoon, your tent would probably be on the other side of the camping site.

So, anyway, the moral of the story is have a strong tent while camping.