Marvin's Spoon Theory: A 1 in 3 Chance of Water Spraying Everywhere

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the humorous notion of a "1 in 3 chance" that a spoon will be positioned under a water stream in a kitchen sink, leading to water spraying everywhere. Participants explore various factors that might influence this probability, including household habits, the presence of a dishwasher, and even whimsical comparisons to phenomena like Schrödinger's cat.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that the probability of a spoon being under the water stream is related to how often spoons are used in the household.
  • Others propose that the strength of the water stream affects whether a spoon is hit, with a stronger stream increasing the likelihood of splashing.
  • Several participants argue that the presence of a dishwasher is a key factor, with one suggesting that the probability is inversely proportional to the number of clean spoons left in the dishwasher.
  • A participant introduces the idea of the "Cornflake-Milk phenomenon," drawing a parallel to how milk hits spoon-shaped flakes.
  • One participant humorously relates the situation to Schrödinger's cat, suggesting that the spoon's presence could be both certain and uncertain depending on observation.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a variety of views on the factors influencing the probability of a spoon being under the water stream, with no consensus reached on a definitive model or explanation. Multiple competing perspectives remain throughout the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference personal experiences and household dynamics, which may introduce subjective variability in their claims. The discussion lacks a formal framework for defining the probability involved, and assumptions about household habits are not universally applicable.

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Is it a relative of Murphy that ensures about a 1 in 3 chance that when I run some water in the kitchen sink, there will be a spoon directly under the water stream, making the water spray everywhere?

With such a high chance event, it's looking like my improbability drive won't fire up any time soon. Perhaps it has something to do with the dishes always being surrounded by an SEP field.

jynnan tonnix anyone?
 
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Uh, what?
 
There's several variables that come into play in this scenario. The odds of a spoon being directly under the stream of water is proportional to how often spoons are used in your house. Normal eating habits would be unlikely to produce such a high probability.

I believe someone in your house is developing an abnormally high number of hickeys, as a frozen spoon is a common way to make hickeys disappear.
 
It could also be dependent on how much ice cream you stock in your freezer.
 
narrator said:
Is it a relative of Murphy that ensures about a 1 in 3 chance that when I run some water in the kitchen sink, there will be a spoon directly under the water stream, making the water spray everywhere?

With such a high chance event, it's looking like my improbability drive won't fire up any time soon. Perhaps it has something to do with the dishes always being surrounded by an SEP field.

jynnan tonnix anyone?

:smile:
 
In my experience probability depends on how strong stream of water you need. If you open the tap just a little bit, there is no spoon, as it lies in the place that will be hit by the strong stream.
 
I think it is directly related to whether you have a dishwasher, or not.
 
Triple_D said:
I think it is directly related to whether you have a dishwasher, or not.

And by directly related, you mean the chances of having a spoon laying in the path of the stream of water is directly proportional to whether you have a dishwasher or not?

This would basically be a step function since you either have a dishwasher or you don't. I think it needs expansion.

The probability of having a spoon laying in the path of the stream of water is directly proportional to the amount of time since the dishwasher was run and inversely proportional to the number of clean spoons still remaining in the dishwasher. (No one ever unloads clean dishes from a dishwasher - they just let the dishes stack up until the dishwasher is finally empty).
 
This is also related to the Cornflake-Milk phenomenon. Whenever you pour milk in a bowl of cornflakes the milk will directly hit a spoon shaped flake, causing the milk to go everywhere.
 
  • #10
BobG said:
And by directly related, you mean the chances of having a spoon laying in the path of the stream of water is directly proportional to whether you have a dishwasher or not?

This would basically be a step function since you either have a dishwasher or you don't. I think it needs expansion.

The probability of having a spoon laying in the path of the stream of water is directly proportional to the amount of time since the dishwasher was run and inversely proportional to the number of clean spoons still remaining in the dishwasher. (No one ever unloads clean dishes from a dishwasher - they just let the dishes stack up until the dishwasher is finally empty).

LOL. Well, the way it works around my house is pretty simple. I put dirty spoons in the dishwasher, not in the sink. And I don't put clean spoons in the sink, either. Therefore, since there are no spoons in the sink, it is very unlikely that there is a spoon laying directly in the path of the stream of water.

Oh, and I always unload the clean dishes from my dishwasher. :biggrin:
 
Last edited:
  • #11
Triple_D said:
Oh, and I always unload the clean dishes from my dishwasher. :biggrin:

That's what I used to do many years ago.

Later I bought other plate and additional spoon, since then I had an extra set that either sit clean in dishwasher or dirty in the sink. Tertium non datur.
 
  • #12
Borek said:
That's what I used to do many years ago.

Later I bought other plate and additional spoon, since then I had an extra set that either sit clean in dishwasher or dirty in the sink. Tertium non datur.
Sounds like my apartment in college, Borek. I'd invite the two pretty co-eds from across the street to supper once in a while (neither of them could cook), and I'd have a hard time pulling together enough plates and utensils for the 3 of us, sometimes. I'd make spaghetti and garlic bread or chili and biscuits (favorites of theirs) and they would bring a bottle or two of wine. None of the plates or utensils matched, and one of us (me, usually) would end up using a jelly-jar as a wine-glass. I think I had exactly one piece of stem-ware that my aunt had managed not to break that she donated to the cause.

I never put dirty dishes in the sink. I had a dish-pan that I'd put soap and water in, and wash the dirty dishes, rinse everything, and hand dry everything with dish-towels. I did have a dish-washer, but it was me.

Chance of water splashing out the sink because of hitting a spoon. Essentially zero.
 
  • #13
BobG said:
And by directly related, you mean the chances of having a spoon laying in the path of the stream of water is directly proportional to whether you have a dishwasher or not?

This would basically be a step function since you either have a dishwasher or you don't. I think it needs expansion.

The probability of having a spoon laying in the path of the stream of water is directly proportional to the amount of time since the dishwasher was run and inversely proportional to the number of clean spoons still remaining in the dishwasher. (No one ever unloads clean dishes from a dishwasher - they just let the dishes stack up until the dishwasher is finally empty).

Sounds like it could be related to Schrödinger's cat. They tend to get on benches when no one is around to observe them. Hence the spoon could be said to both be in the sink and not be in the sink. If Schrödinger's cat is at the sink and nobody is there, does anyone hear the meow? A clear case of SR, or a Matrix like Deja Vu, judging by the repetition factor.
 

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