Collection of Science Jokes P2

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Discussion Overview

This thread features a collection of science-related jokes, puns, and humorous anecdotes, primarily focusing on physics, mathematics, and engineering concepts. The discussion includes various types of jokes, some of which are derived from literature, while others are original contributions from participants.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant shares a joke about a mathematician, a dog, and a cow, highlighting the humor in knot theory.
  • Another participant introduces a joke about Heisenberg's uncertainty principle in a romantic context.
  • Several jokes reference mathematical conventions, such as the use of epsilon in calculus, with some participants seeking clarification on the humor.
  • A joke about a communication between Americans and Canadians illustrates a humorous misunderstanding, with historical context provided by a participant.
  • Participants discuss the nature of jokes, including the structure of short jokes and the implications of scientific terminology in humor.
  • There are multiple jokes involving Heisenberg, with one participant noting the brevity of a specific version of the joke.
  • A humorous take on a scientific method is shared, with some participants expressing curiosity about the referenced group of scientists.
  • Another joke involves a metaphorical description of a woman's experience during childbirth, framed in scientific terms.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally share jokes and humorous anecdotes without a clear consensus on any specific joke or concept. Some jokes prompt requests for clarification, indicating varying levels of understanding and appreciation for the humor presented.

Contextual Notes

Some jokes rely on specific scientific knowledge or conventions that may not be universally understood, leading to requests for explanations. The humor often hinges on wordplay and the intersection of scientific concepts with everyday situations.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in science humor, particularly in physics and mathematics, may find this collection entertaining and thought-provoking.

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Old thread: https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/science-jokes.4463/page-44

My wife just drew this

12376697_762331814307_4982172134413525429_n.jpg
 
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Found in Colin Adam's "The Knot Book," but found and copied/pasted from mathoverflow. (I added hyperlinks for the concepts needed to get the joke).

A mathematician walks into a bar accompanied by a dog and a cow.
The bartender says, “Hey, no animals are allowed in here!”
The mathematician replies, “These are very special animals.”
“How so?”
“They’re knot theorists.”
The bartender raises his eyebrows and says, “I’ve met a number of knot theorists who I thought were animals, but never an animal that was a knot theorist.”
“Well, I’ll prove it to you. Ask them them anything you like.”
So the bartender asks the dog, “Name a knot invariant.”
Arf! Arf!” barks the dog.
The bartender scowls and turns to the cow asking, “Name a topological invariant.”
Mu! Mu!” says the cow.
At this point the bartender turns to the mathematican and says, “Very funny.” With that, he throws the three out of the bar.
Outside, sitting on the curb, the dog turns to the mathematican and asks, “Do you think I should have said the Jones polynomial instead?”
 
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Did you hear this new craze of physicists posting videos of themselves calculating forces and radii and multiplying them together?
I think they call it... torqueing?-okayi'llbegoingnow-
 
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I heard this from a friend before, and I thought it was pretty funny.
Q: Why was Heisenberg such a bad lover?
A: When he got the momentum, he couldn't find the position, and when he found the position, he couldn't muster up the momentum.
 
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http://41.media.tumblr.com/cab31a6bd9c9ca7389c1ef327c88944d/tumblr_n8scqwh7gU1to8om8o1_500.jpg
 
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The shortest math joke: Be ##ε < 0##.
 
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What is the engineer's favorite area in a church?
The cross section.
 
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dkotschessaa said:
Found in Colin Adam's "The Knot Book," but found and copied/pasted from mathoverflow. (I added hyperlinks for the concepts needed to get the joke).

A mathematician walks into a bar accompanied by a dog and a cow...
The dog is absolutely right. Even me, never really connected to knot theory, have heard about the Jones polynomial. :smile:
 
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  • #10
fresh_42 said:
The shortest math joke: Be ##ε < 0##.
Can you explain? I don't get it.
 
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  • #11
Jonathan Scott said:
Can you explain? I don't get it.
It's about conventions. As ##n## is an integer, ##z## a complex number, ##p## a prime, ##i,j,k## indices or ##A_{ji}## a transposed matrix so is ##ε## in calculus the byword of something arbitrary small, but positive. Uncounted definitions and proofs about convergence, differentiation or continuity start with an ##ε > 0##.
 
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  • #12
fresh_42 said:
It's about conventions. As ##n## is an integer, ##z## a complex number, ##p## a prime, ##i,j,k## indices or ##A_{ji}## a transposed matrix so is ##ε## in calculus the byword of something arbitrary small, but positive. Uncounted definitions and proofs about convergence, differentiation or continuity start with an ##ε > 0##.
OK, I know all that but it still doesn't make sense to me when preceded by the word "Be".
Perhaps it's a language problem; I might expect a proof to start with: "Let ##ε > 0##" in which case "Let ##ε < 0##" might be considered a joke.
 
  • #13
Jonathan Scott said:
OK, I know all that but it still doesn't make sense to me when preceded by the word "Be".
Perhaps it's a language problem; I might expect a proof to start with: "Let ##ε > 0##" in which case "Let ##ε < 0##" might be considered a joke.
Yeah, probably, sorry! I had 'let' first and wasn't sure for it sounds a little like 'let it be'. In German it's 'be' (conditional).
 
  • #14
fresh_42 said:
Yeah, probably, sorry! I had 'let' first and wasn't sure for it sounds a little like 'let it be'. In German it's 'be' (conditional).
OK, that makes sense now, and Google finds that "Let epsilon be less than zero" or similar seems to be quite an old joke, probably predating Google (in that the oldest reference I could find appears to be from 1994).
 
  • #15
There is another joke which became viral in the 90's with the internet getting more and more popular.

Americans: "Please divert your course 15 degrees to the North to avoid a collision."
Canadians: "Recommend you divert YOUR course 15 degrees to the South to avoid a collision."
Americans: "This is the captain of a US Navy ship. I say again, divert YOUR course."
Canadians: "No, I say again, you divert YOUR course."
Americans: "THIS IS THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN, THE SECOND LARGEST SHIP IN THE UNITED STATES' ATLANTIC FLEET. WE ARE ACCOMPANIED BY THREE DESTROYERS, THREE CRUISERS AND NUMEROUS SUPPORT VESSELS. I DEMAND THAT YOU CHANGE YOUR COURSE 15 DEGREES NORTH. THAT'S ONE-FIVE DEGREES NORTH, OR COUNTER MEASURES WILL BE UNDERTAKEN TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THIS SHIP."
Canadians: "This is a lighthouse. Your call."

Usually it's been commentated as being 'real'. Actually the joke dates back to the 30's and whether it's real or not cannot be said anymore. Someone once replied to an anecdote I told him: "I doubt it's true. However, the point is: It could be true."
 
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  • #16
Now I realize why shortest jokes are always straight and it's true that nature can't produce or grow things that can stand too tall or stay too long without they being curved towards some direction.
 
  • #17
The student: I believe the brain requires quantum mechanical treatment. What do you think?
The professor: Certainly your brain does.
 
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  • #18
element-of-surprise_272.gif
 
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  • #19
High school science teacher ask a question: Students! What is an "elementary Particle?"

The smartest kid in class answers (fundamental subatomic particles),
Immediately the Jock in the back corner of the class room laughs hysterically, the teacher asked what's so funny, The Jock replies, elementary particles are stupid, they haven't made it to junior high yet!
 
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  • #20
ion-teaching-statistics-statistical_probability-maths-fortune_teller-fortune_telling-shr1126_low.jpg
 
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  • #21
computers-date_analyst-data_analysis-expectations-flaws-data_entry-aban1402_low.jpg
 
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  • #22
Age and IQ TEST
b4i_screw_u_ornament_round.jpg
 
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  • #23
Muon.gif


http://qph.is.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-ad91d0dfe2be80b04f94f027b1f10e28?convert_to_webp=true
 
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  • #24
Okay "I got one". Heisenberg gets pulled over for speeding and the officer asks, do you know how fast you were going? no replies Heisenberg but I knew exactly where I was.
 
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  • #25
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  • #26
fresh_42 said:
I just discovered a brand new scientific method. Only available in the US.

I have never heard of that particular group of scientists. I find their views interesting and I am very curious what methodologies they used to reach such a conclusion
 
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  • #27
dkotschessaa said:
I have never heard of that particular group of scientists. I find their views interesting and I am very curious what methodologies they used to reach such a conclusion
I don't know details but a famous group of scientist once used this method to prove the geocentric model of our universe. I think they called themselves catholic church. They also have had a similar powerful PR department.
 
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  • #28
fresh_42 said:
I don't know details but a famous group of scientist once used this method to prove the geocentric model of our universe. I think they called themselves catholic church. They also have had a similar powerful PR department.

Fascinating!
 
  • #29
thermodynamicsJoke.jpg


e698e4cce684c90457e43dfd4f94ff34.jpg
 
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  • #30
DennisN said:
thermodynamicsJoke.jpg
You cannot know. There is no device installed to use some of that infinite power!
 
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