The Mathematical Wizard, A House's Windows, And Solar Flux

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a hypothetical scenario involving a mathematical wizard who can increase the number of windows in a small house while maintaining the same total window area. Participants explore whether this could affect the solar flux entering the home, considering various technical details that could influence the outcome.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question the feasibility of increasing solar flux with more windows of reduced area, emphasizing the need for additional technical details.
  • Specific factors are suggested as critical to the analysis, including wall thickness, window orientation, and geographical location.
  • One participant expresses a desire to explore the implications of atmospheric composition on solar flux, indicating a broader scope of inquiry.
  • Another participant acknowledges the need for more technical details and reflects on the nature of the original question as being more for fun than rigorous analysis.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that more technical details are necessary for a thorough analysis, but there is no consensus on the implications of the scenario or how the various factors would interact.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the lack of specific measurements and conditions that could significantly alter the calculations related to solar flux.

Young101
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TL;DR Summary: A mathematical wizard wishes for more sunlight for a pair of homeowners who have limited space for new windows.

There are four walls in a small house with one room. One window is on each of the four walls. A mathematical wizard comes and promises the homeowners that he can make the house have many more windows, so many more windows. He can keep doubling the number of windows on each wall while reducing their area by half. Eventually, the homeowners have millions of windows. Even though the total surface area of windows did not change, is it possible that the solar flux into the home can increase depending upon the positioning of the new windows?
 
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Young101 said:
TL;DR Summary: A mathematical wizard wishes for more sunlight for a pair of homeowners who have limited space for new windows.

There are four walls in a small house with one room. One window is on each of the four walls. A mathematical wizard comes and promises the homeowners that he can make the house have many more windows, so many more windows. He can keep doubling the number of windows on each wall while reducing their area by half. Eventually, the homeowners have millions of windows. Even though the total surface area of windows did not change, is it possible that the solar flux into the home can increase depending upon the positioning of the new windows?
Welcome to PF.

If you really want a good technical analysis of your "technical question", you will need to provide a lot more details.

** How thick are the walls compared to the overall structure size and the thickness of the windows?

** What is the orientation of the room with respect to the latitude and longitude of the room?

** Where in the world is this room located (local weather, etc.)?

Without providing technical details when you ask a puzzle question like this, it borders on trolling...
 
berkeman said:
Welcome to PF.

If you really want a good technical analysis of your "technical question", you will need to provide a lot more details.

** How thick are the walls compared to the overall structure size and the thickness of the windows?

** What is the orientation of the room with respect to the latitude and longitude of the room?

** Where in the world is this room located (local weather, etc.)?

Without providing technical details when you ask a puzzle question like this, it borders on trolling...
Hi berkeman,

I did not mean to impose, as if trolling. And yes, complete technical thoughts require more technical details. I see that now. I guess I was just happy to ask such a question. It's really just for fun, because it seems to me that when asked, perhaps it provides some happiness in the asking. But, I see now I should have maybe not done so in the manner I did.
 
No worries. Do you see why I asked each question? How would your answers to each of my questions alter the calculation? :wink:
 
I wonder about another planet's atmospheric composition? This would be interesting to think about further among your other constraints, or rather the more technical detail that must be offered before such a question is even thought upon. Though this parameter certainly is related to weather.
 

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