Part 4/11:
A significant portion of the monologue focuses on the collapse of the World Trade Center. John expresses awe at the sheer scale of the buildings, noting that they held nearly a million tons of steel—comparable in length to battleships he formerly worked on. He reflects on the immense energy stored within such structures and discusses the destructive processes during their collapse, including the peeling down like a banana and the explosive release of concrete dust.
He shares insights into the engineering complexities involved, such as the buckling of trusses and the stress placed on lower floors. His analysis demonstrates a keen interest in the physical science behind catastrophic events, blending personal experience with technical understanding.