Posted by Jason J on November 24, 1998 at 17:16:55 in 204.227.172.222 :
In Reply to: The Sinking posted by Doug Westfall on November 24, 1998 at 15:55:34:
Theoretically, since the stern had no water in it
initially, once it broke, it would fall back level.
Since the front half was still connected by the bottom
most hull plates for a short time before breaking free,
the weight of the front would drag the
severed area of the stern down, plus the engines were there,
and they are the heaviest part of the stern. Seeing as the engines
were the heaviest, and there was still air inside,
then the rearmost portion of the stern would then end up being the highest
part (sticking straight up). The air would have difficulty coming
out as it sank, so the stern gets blown apart as the water pressure forces
the air out. That is the main reason why the stern looks so bad,
besides the force of the direct impact with the ocean floor.
Unless, of course, I'm wrong.....
Jason