Solve Enjoyable Enigmas with Mr.E's Challenge

[OmCheeto]

It can get tricky. And the trick is to remember Archimedes.
Wasn't he in Random Thoughts just a few days back, destroying ships and stuff?

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/pbuoy.html

I don't think it has anything to do with buoyancy. If you draw a free body diagram of a square, placed in a level liquid, the only net liquid force is on the bottom. If you tilt the liquid to 45 degrees, keeping the square level, there will be a net force opposite the direction that the square actually goes!

I think it may have more to do with the capillary action. Looking at the cork-water-glass system, it's obvious that there are curved surfaces, almost like gravitational fields. But describing how the cohesive/adhesive forces pull the cork to the position where the water-cork-glass system is at its lowest energy state, is beyond my abilities.

 

[lisab]

It can get tricky. And the trick is to remember Archimedes.
Wasn't he in Random Thoughts just a few days back, destroying ships and stuff?

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/pbuoy.html

Yeah he shows up now and then, muttering something about disturbing circles.

 

[collinsmark]

I acquired more matches. Lots and lots of matches.

Experimentation shows that encapsulating the fruit and match before the sulfur tip finishes burning does not draw appreciably more water into the glass, compared to simply holding a flame under the glass and placing the glass on the water.

It seems the fruit is superfluous after all, insofar as drawing water into the glass. I recommend that Gad snack on the fruit.

 

[Enigman]

Yeah he shows up now and then, muttering something about disturbing circles.

one more time...

 

[Enigman]

Well here's another one:
Given that you have only two options and you have to take one which one would you take? And why?
-One day in Venus and get 1 million dollars
-One year in Venus and get 1.2 million dollars
Of course you would get all the food, water and all other necessities needed to survive the period of time you choose. (Note that Venus in reference is a planet and not a girl...)

 

[zoobyshoe]

Of course you would get all the food, water and all other necessities needed to survive the period of time you choose.

Not likely:

Probes have been sent to the surface, but can only survive a few hours in the intense heat and sulfuric acid.

http://www.universetoday.com/14306/temperature-of-venus/

 

[Enigman]

Just for the sake of the puzzle then?

 

[zoobyshoe]

Just for the sake of the puzzle then?

A year. Obviously I've already googled.


When do I get my $100.00 for the glass trick?

 

[Enigman]

A few minutes later the waiter/waitress walked off with hundred bucks. What did you do?

You've already got it...
And you get the other prize money after you spend the year there...send me some photos...

 

[collinsmark]

Okay, I'll bite.

Suffice it to say though that Venus is a very inhospitable place.

Venus is a bit unusual compared to other planets that its rotation is retrograde. If we take the sun's North pole as "up" (using the right hand rule -- this is how astronomers define a celestial body's North and South, by using the right hand rule on the body's rotation) the planets/other bodies orbit around the sun in an anticlockwise motion ("counterclockwise," for all you American yahoos). Most planets also rotate anticlockwise, more or less (albeit on a somewhat tilted axis). Venus on the other hand rotates clockwise -- opposite that of its orbit, and the orbit of the other planets. This is called "retrograde" rotation.

And retrograde or not, it doesn't rotate very quickly. Venus has a sidereal day of approximately 243 Earth days. That's the time it takes to rotate once, using the fixed background stars as a reference.

It's orbital period around the sun is about 225 Earth days.

That make a solar day on Venus to be approximately 117 Earth days -- significantly less than its sidereal day.

So, one Venusian year is about 1.92 Venusian (solar) days long. So I suppose I would take the one solar day on Venus, and skip on the extra $200,000.

On the other hand, if "day" is defined as a sidereal day, it makes much more sense to only stay for a Venusian year and take the whole $1.2 M.

("Earth days" in the above are taken to be Earth's solar days, not sidereal days, although the distinction doesn't make a huge difference here.)

 

[zoobyshoe]

You've already got it...
And you get the other prize money after you spend the year there...send me some photos...

I'm not going to Venus. And I haven't gotten my $100.00. You should also probably PayPal Collinsmark about $10.00 for all the fruit and matches for his experiments.

 

[Enigman]

The question clearly states that the waiter (you) has walked off with the money and the question was what did you do, ergo you have got it. As for Collinsmark since you owe him for the correct answer you should recompense him from your prize money. $90 for a tip is quite generous (considering your attitude inasmuch you refuse to go to Venus.) now, don't be a scrooge, zoobie.

 

[zoobyshoe]

The question clearly states that the waiter (you) has walked off with the money and the question was what did you do, ergo you have got it.

You may say I walked away with it all you want, but I haven't walked away yet. I'm standing here waiting.

As for Collinsmark since you owe him for the correct answer...

Whoah! I owe him for the correct explanation, that's all. I published the correct answer before him, and that's all that counts.

 

[Enigman]

You may say I walked away with it all you want, but I haven't walked away yet. I'm standing here waiting.

You PF while standing? Zoobie Brush Shelter sure has got some queer ways...well, wait ON! (preferably on me...)

Whoah! I owe him for the correct explanation, that's all. I published the correct answer before him, and that's all that counts.

Sir Newt would say the same thing about his corpuscular theory and Einstein's photons...
Doesn't change the fact that both of you were wrong.


Now let me think/google up the next one...

 

[zoobyshoe]

Doesn't change the fact that both of you were wrong.

Oh, now we're wrong?!?

What's the right answer, then? Collinsmark is eager to test it experimentally.

 

[collinsmark]

I need to make a clarification. In a previous post I claimed:

If we take the sun's North pole as "up" (using the right hand rule -- this is how astronomers define a celestial body's North and South, by using the right hand rule on the body's rotation)

It turns out it's not quite so simple, at least as defined by the IAU anyway. For a more detailed definition, this might be a good place to start.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poles_of_astronomical_bodies

 

[Enigman]

Oh, now we're wrong?!?

What's the right answer, then? Collinsmark is eager to test it experimentally.

You and Newt (on), mes enfants...Collinsmark was right.
BTW Collinsmark, I did not know about the poles...Thanks for the information and the really detailed explanations and saving me the pains...

 

[Enigman]

Well the next one then, you've been given a barrel of beer and I've removed some quantity from it (Hic!).
You are to determine whether the quantity removed was more than half, half or less than it...without using any instruments whatsoever except your 'selves'. Be advised that you are not to drink it, or dunk your hand, legs, head or anything else in it. After solving the puzzle you may drink this hypothetical beer up or dump it on my head. (preferably the later)
Good Luck!
And no googling ZBS (or anyone else)...
Use those (P)Fing brains of yours.

 

[drizzle]

... Look inside the barrel?

 

[Enigman]

You are allowed to do that -however you have to be accurate; there has to be absolute certainty and even a small amount would make a difference.

 

[zoobyshoe]

You and Newt (on), mes enfants...Collinsmark was right.

So, I was right before when you thought you could make me think I already had my $100.00, but since I didn't fall for that you're now redefining me as wrong.

This contest is rigged. You're all about scamming the winners out of their prizes. I bet collinsmark never sees a penny of his million.

 

[drizzle]

Lol Zshoe!

 

[zoobyshoe]

Lol Zshoe!

And don't bother figuring out the beer barrel. You'll never see a drop of that hypothetical beer.

 

[drizzle]

 

[Enigman]

By Einstein's mythical socks! I haven't laughed so hard in ages...

So, I was right before when you thought you could make me think I already had my $100.00, but since I didn't fall for that you're now redefining me as wrong.

I am not redefining any zoobies, Collinsmark proved your reasoning to be wrong... Also you answered the question as to what you had done to get the prize money after you had got it.

This contest is rigged. You're all about scamming the winners out of their prizes.

^{*no comments*}-

I bet collinsmark never sees a penny of his million.

After he spends his year in Venus, he would... Reaching there is his responsibility, but I promise to send required supplies there...

As for the beer, well solve it and see...

 

[drizzle]

... I'm pretty sure I can accurately tell beer level in the barrel, just show me the thing.

 

[Enigman]

Through that hole?

 

[zoobyshoe]

I am not redefining any zoobies,

This is a logical fallacy called a "straw man". I never said you were redefining any zoobies. I said you were redefining Archimedes.

Collinsmark proved your reasoning to be wrong...

Yes, the reasoning, not the answer. There's no prohibition against accidentally correct answers. Besides, collinsmark was baffled by the fruit and wanted to feed it to Gad.

Also you answered the question as to what you had done to get the prize money after you had got it.

No, you questioned the response to my interrogative about the pre-post prize money award, before I had even answered your after-the-fact, and subtended denial prior to collinsmark having told Omcheeto about the cork in the bottom of the beer barrel.

^{*no comments*}-

Fifth ammendment. I figured.

After he spends his year in Venus, he would... Reaching there is his responsibility, but I promise to send required supplies there...

He'll be incinerated and dissolved. Great way to get out of paying him.

As for the beer, well solve it and see...

This is a tough one, but I think the solution hinges on one's ability to tell whether the barrel is exactly half empty or exactly half full.

 

[drizzle]

Through that hole?

AAAHaaahaahaahaha. I was thinking a standing open barrel. OK.

 

[Enigman]

You can stand it up, stand on it, roll it, tilt it, carry it over your head, as far as I am concerned...Just don't break it or spill any beer...

Spoiler

that was a hint

 

[Enigman]

... you're now redefining me as wrong

This is a logical fallacy called a "straw man". I never said you were redefining any zoobies. I said you were redefining Archimedes.

Did you just claim to be Archimedes? I WANT AN AUTOGRAPH!

He'll be incinerated and dissolved. Great way to get out of paying him.

This is a tough one, but I think the solution hinges on one's ability to tell whether the barrel is exactly half empty or exactly half full.

Nope, its about symmetry l yrtemmys

 

[drizzle]

Is there an inclined ground of a certain angle to get this barrel with no force applied go down like a rolling stone?...

 

[zoobyshoe]

It's easy if it's a lot more or less than half. I can't think of a way to tell the difference between half or merely close to half without instruments.

 

[Enigman]

A huge hint: the hole is big enough so that you can see the top edge of the bottom of the barrel and the bottom edge of the top of the barrel, check the picture...

 

[zoobyshoe]

A huge hint: the hole is big enough so that you can see the top edge of the bottom of the barrel and the bottom edge of the top of the barrel, check the picture...

That is a huge hint. I got it now. I'll let Gad consider that hint for a while.

 

[drizzle]

*blank stare*.. Next one please.

 

[zoobyshoe]

*blank stare*.. Next one please.

Another clue: you can take a rectangle and draw a line from one corner to the opposite corner making two triangles that are exactly equal in all ways, congruent triangles.

 

[drizzle]

Next puzzle, I don't drink beer.

 

[OmCheeto]

Next puzzle, I don't drink beer.

I drink beer, and I have not a clue how to solve this puzzle.

How do you tell if there is +/- one molecules worth of grog in that flask?

I'm 99.9999% sure that this is not something that one can solve with science.

This is a word game.

 

[zoobyshoe]

How do you tell if there is +/- one molecules worth of grog in that flask?

It's obvious the tolerance isn't that tight. The tolerance is more like a half pitcher either way.

 

[OmCheeto]

Next puzzle, I don't drink beer.

It's obvious the tolerance isn't that tight. The tolerance is more like a half pitcher either way.

sorry...

unsubscribed... (I really am, really stupid)

 

[Enigman]

Tilt the barrel till beer reaches the rim of barrel, at that point if you can see the top edge of bottom of barrel, it is half filled, if you can see the bottom of barrel its less than half, if not its more than half. I'm going to be busy for the next week; hence the prompt answer.
Regards.

 

[OmCheeto]

Resubscribe.

A Norwegian, an Italian, and an American jump from a plane.

Who lands last?

 

[OmCheeto]

Resubscribe.

A Norwegian, an Italian, and an American jump from a plane.

Who lands last?

Ok. That was silly.

Today, I have been sharing these puzzles, at work, ad absurd am.
It was my observation, that everyone was enjoying the conversation.

But then I realized, that the FBD I'd drawn on my hand, voiced by Zoob, was the solution, to the previous question.

I felt very silly.

 

[OmCheeto]

Tilt the barrel till beer reaches the rim of barrel, at that point if you can see the top edge of bottom of barrel, it is half filled, if you can see the bottom of barrel its less than half, if not its more than half. I'm going to be busy for the next week; hence the prompt answer.
Regards.

Ok. That makes sense.

But, when's the last time someone saw a symmetric barrel, in real life?

 

[drizzle]

Until Enigman is back, you give the next puzzle/s Om!

 

[OmCheeto]

Until Enigman is back, you give the next puzzle/s Om!

But, I don't know any puzzles.

I suppose I could post the puzzle that is the basis for the reason why I would unsubscribe from a thread in a tantrum^*. hmmm...

You are a dipstick manufacturer in Denver.
Hans, in Munich Germany, needs you to design a dipstick that measures the quantity of beer in his barrel.

Here's a picture of the barrel:

You don't have a computer, but you are very good at math. In fact, you are the smartest mathematician in the world.

Why can't you figure out where to put the marks on the dipstick. With the possible exceptions of full, half full, and empty? ​

---------------------
* The mere image of a sideways cylinder makes my blood boil.

 

[256bits]

Oh. I know that one.

Because the dipsick-mathematician and Hans can't agree on whether it is better to know if the the barell is half full or half empty.

 

[zoobyshoe]

I'll recycle something from a Sherlock Holmes story:

Sherlock Holmes' sidekick, Dr. Watson, was a medical doctor. When he set up practice he took over the office and clients of a doctor who was retiring from a life-long practice there. This office was on the second floor of a wooden building. There happened to be another Doctor in the same building, but access to his office was by a different set of stairs. By coincidence, the doctor currently there also took over the office and clients from a previous doctor who retired from life-long practice there, about the same time as Watson's predecessor.

The first times Holmes visited Watson's office he instantly congratulated him on having taken over for the far more successful of the two previous doctors. He was right, but Watson was baffled by how he could have known that was the case.

How could Holmes know, with a mere superficial look at the exterior of the two different offices, that Watson's predecessor had been the more popular and sought after doctor?

 

[Enigman]

I'll recycle something from a Sherlock Holmes story:

Sherlock Holmes' sidekick[Mr.E-WHAT? sidekick sounds so derogatory...how about chronicler?], Dr. Watson, was a medical doctor. When he set up practice he took over the office and clients of a doctor who was retiring from a life-long practice there. This office was on the second floor of a wooden building. There happened to be another Doctor in the same building, but access to his office was by a different set of stairs. By coincidence, the doctor currently there also took over the office and clients from a previous doctor who retired from life-long practice there, about the same time as Watson's predecessor.

The first times Holmes visited Watson's office he instantly congratulated him on having taken over for the far more successful of the two previous doctors. He was right, but Watson was baffled by how he could have known that was the case.

How could Holmes know, with a mere superficial look at the exterior of the two different offices, that Watson's predecessor had been the more popular and sought after doctor?

Just a drive-by...