3 Interesting Facts You Didn’t Know About

How quickly does a ship break in two? – On 14^th April 1912 the Titanic collided with an iceberg and sank in the Atlantic. 1,514 people lost their lives. Now, 104 years later, researchers have generated a minute-by-minute reconstruction of the disaster. While still on the water’s surface, the Titanic breaks in two. The front part of the ship sinks vertically into the depths, but the stern only spirals towards the seafloor some minutes later. It ends up 600 metres away from the bow.

• 11.40pm – The Titanic hits an iceberg at a speed of 24mph.
• 1.50am – The flooded bow sinks while the ship tilts towards the port side.
• 2.15am –The increase in water pressure causes the front funnel to break off. More water floods through the additional opening.
• 2.18am – The build-up of pressure between the bow and the stern is so strong that the hull snaps in two.
• 2.19am – The stern also tilts downwards and water floods the broken front side.
• 2.20am – The stern turns so it’s in a vertical position and then slowly spirals downwards.
• 2.21am – The front mast breaks away, the funnels break off. The stern rotates and sinks with the bow.

While the stern and bow sink towards the floor, more debris breaks away. At 35mph the bow crashes onto the seabed. The stern shatters on impact.