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(OT) Math Puzzle (from Bean in 2005) - Page 2 — Parallax Forums

(OT) Math Puzzle (from Bean in 2005)

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  • $WMc%$WMc% Posts: 1,884
    edited 2011-03-27 13:52
    Displacement is the answer.
    '
    As long as the rock is moved from the boat to the water in the same pool, The water level will not change.
    '
    Displacement is displacement
    '
    The boat will sit higher with out the rock, But the level of the pool will remain the same.
    '
    Edit:
    Proving wrong below, I am not smarter than a fifth grader. But I've learned something new and I see My error.
  • kwinnkwinn Posts: 8,697
    edited 2011-03-27 15:24
    Density of pure water is 1. If the rock sinks it is more dense than water. For the sake of argument lets assume the rock has a volume of 1 (pick your own units) and a density of 1.1. Thus the rock weighs 1.1 times more than an equal volume of water, so it displaces a volume of water 1.1 times it's own volume while in the boat. Throw it in the water and it displaces it's own volume, so the level in the pool is now lower.
  • Dave HeinDave Hein Posts: 6,347
    edited 2011-03-27 16:10
    OK, instead of a boat, what if the rock was inside of a tube that is sealed on the bottom and open on the top. The tube is taller than the depth of the pool? With the rock in the tube it sits on the bottom. When the rock is moved outside of the tube to the bottom of the pool, what happens to the water level?
  • HollyMinkowskiHollyMinkowski Posts: 1,398
    edited 2011-03-27 17:07
    All the comments in this thread are exactly the sort to be expected
    from a bunch of people that program uC's :-)

    We just have to be nit pickers, it's required by what we do.

    We have to think of every strange possibility or the systems we
    create will fail.

    BTW: Every time the guy in the boat exhales the water level is changed
    because his weight decreases...from water vapor loss mainly.

    The water level also changes a very tiny bit depending on the water
    temperature....so what if the rock is glowing red hot? Also a red hot
    rock would release a bit of steam into the air as it hit the surface..

    Gotta pick those nits :-)
  • BeanBean Posts: 8,129
    edited 2011-03-27 18:14
    Beau,
    So what was the answer ???
    It would make a great science fair experiment (do schools even have science fairs anymore ?).

    Bean
    My oldest daughter and I just did an experiment: and we have our answer. :-)

    1 six inch plastic bowl filled 1/2 way with water = Pool
    ALTOIDS Box (remove lid) = Boat
    1/4 measuring cup = Man
    10 marbles = rock used in test #1
    15 quarters = rock used in test #2
    Electrical tape = used to mark the levels on the plastic bowl ... and cover the holes on the ALTIODS Box where the lid attached.

    Note: The 1/4 inch measuring cup was to keep the center of weight in the 'boat', otherwise the marbles would roll to one corner and sink the boat.
  • doggiedocdoggiedoc Posts: 2,246
    edited 2011-03-27 19:09
    Gotta pick those nits :-)

    You go girl!

    LOL
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,260
    edited 2011-03-27 19:53
    Bean: The answer here is like a lady's age. Wonder all you want, but a gentleman never asks, and a lady never tells!
  • Beau SchwabeBeau Schwabe Posts: 6,568
    edited 2011-03-27 20:19
    Bean,

    "So what was the answer ???" - really? I set the stage with enough common household items you could do the test for yourself to see, and then hypothesise the observed result in reverse. Ohh well, (See attached images)

    "It would make a great science fair experiment (do schools even have science fairs anymore ?)." - That's a great idea, and yes some schools still have science fairs. Here at least, they are done through the local university mostly just to provide the space.


    EDIT: The measuring cup (aka - the 'Man') was actually 1/3rd cup and not 1/4th cup
    1024 x 768 - 46K
    1024 x 768 - 87K
    1024 x 768 - 89K
    1024 x 768 - 46K
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,260
    edited 2011-03-27 22:59
    I won't say I told you so.

    So where did they bury the survivors?
  • Martin_HMartin_H Posts: 4,051
    edited 2011-03-28 05:03
    Now that's settled, anyone can to whip up an infinite grid of ideal 1 ohm resistors?
  • doggiedocdoggiedoc Posts: 2,246
    edited 2011-03-28 06:54
    erco wrote: »
    I won't say I told you so.

    So where did they bury the survivors?
    I feel sorry for those survivors if you buried them. :D
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,260
    edited 2011-03-28 08:37
    Therein lies the rub, DD!

    A snail climbs a 6 foot wall 3 feet each day but slips back 2 feet each night. Assuming the barber shaves everyone who does not shave himself/herself, how many were going to St. Ives?
  • doggiedocdoggiedoc Posts: 2,246
    edited 2011-03-28 09:00
    erco wrote: »
    Therein lies the rub, DD!

    A snail climbs a 6 foot wall 3 feet each day but slips back 2 feet each night. Assuming the barber shaves everyone who does not shave himself/herself, how many were going to St. Ives?

    Exactly!!
  • sam_sam_samsam_sam_sam Posts: 2,286
    edited 2011-03-28 13:52
    3.33 days to get out <........... I know I know but just could not help
  • doggiedocdoggiedoc Posts: 2,246
    edited 2011-03-30 12:33
    3.33 days to get out <........... I know I know but just could not help
    That is beyond my grasp at the moment. Care to explain?
  • Dave HeinDave Hein Posts: 6,347
    edited 2011-03-30 12:39
    I figure 3.5 days to get to 6 feet or 4.33... days to get above 6 feet.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,260
    edited 2011-03-30 13:18
    Yup, I make exactly 3.5 days, at the Spring & Autumnal equinoxes in Chaco Canyon.

    But to find out who shaves & buries the survivors going to St. Ives, see http://www.mbeckler.org/resistor_grid/
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