Nice On May 16, 2016 6:49 PM, "Gurumurthy K" <itfc.stfk...@gmail.com> wrote:
> The following concerns a question in a physics degree exam at the > University of Copenhagen: > The test question was: "Describe how to determine the height of a > skyscraper with a barometer." > One student replied: "You tie a long piece of string to the neck of the > barometer, then lower the > barometer from the roof of the skyscraper to the ground. The length of the > string plus the length of the > barometer will equal the height of the building." > This highly original answer so incensed the examiner that the student was > failed immediately. The > student appealed on the grounds that his answer was indisputably correct, > and the university appointed an > independent arbiter to decide the case. > The arbiter judged that the answer was indeed correct, but did not display > any noticeable knowledge of > physics. To resolve the problem it was decided to call the student in and > allow him six minutes in which > to provide a verbal answer that showed at least a minimal familiarity with > the basic principles of physics. > For five minutes the student sat in silence, forehead creased in thought. > The arbiter reminded him that > time was running out, to which the student replied that he had several > extremely relevant answers, but > couldn't make up his mind which to use. On being advised to that time was > up the student scribbled down > some notes and turned it over to the arbiter. > This is what the paper said. "You could take the barometer up to the roof > of the skyscraper, drop it over > the edge, and measure the time it takes to reach the ground. The height of > the building can then be > worked out from the formula H = 0.5g x t squared. But this would be bad > luck for the barometer." > The arbiter looked at the professor, shrugged his shoulders and said – > “this is not the answer that you > were expecting but it is a correct answer and it does demonstrate > knowledge of physics.” The arbiter > ruled that the student should be given a passing grade. > After the professor left the room, the arbiter looked at the student and > said “You said you were thinking of > several answers – what were they?” > “Well, if the sun is shining you could measure the height of the > barometer, then set it on end and measure > the length of its shadow. Then you measure the length of the skyscraper's > shadow, and thereafter it is a > simple matter of proportional arithmetic to work out the height of the > skyscraper." > "But if you wanted to be highly scientific about it, you could tie a short > piece of string to the barometer > and swing it like a pendulum, first at ground level and then on the roof > of the skyscraper. The height is > worked out by the difference in the gravitational restoring force T =2 pi > square root (l /g)." > "Or if the skyscraper has an outside emergency staircase, it would be > easier to walk up it and mark off the > height of the skyscraper in barometer lengths, then add them up." "But > since we are constantly being > exhorted to exercise independence of mind and apply scientific methods, > undoubtedly the best way would > be to knock on the janitor's door and say to him 'If you would like a nice > new barometer, I will give you > this one if you tell me the height of this skyscraper'." > After he had spouted off several of these the arbiter asked the student > “You do know the answer the > professor wanted don’t you.” The student replied “Of course I do, I just > don’t like people telling me how > to think.” > The student was Niels Bohr, the only Dane to win the Nobel Prize for > Physics. > > -- > 1. 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Use Sarvajanika Tantramsha, see > http://karnatakaeducation.org.in/KOER/en/index.php/Why_public_software > ಸಾರ್ವಜನಿಕ ಇಲಾಖೆಗೆ ಸಾರ್ವಜನಿಕ ತಂತ್ರಾಂಶ > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Maths & Science STF" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to mathssciencestf+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > To post to this group, send email to mathssciencestf@googlegroups.com. > Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/mathssciencestf. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. > -- 1. If a teacher wants to join STF, visit http://karnatakaeducation.org.in/KOER/en/index.php/Become_a_STF_groups_member 2. For STF training, visit KOER - http://karnatakaeducation.org.in/KOER/en/index.php 4. For Ubuntu 14.04 installation, visit http://karnatakaeducation.org.in/KOER/en/index.php/Kalpavriksha 4. For doubts on Ubuntu, public software, visit http://karnatakaeducation.org.in/KOER/en/index.php/Frequently_Asked_Questions 5. Are you using pirated software? Use Sarvajanika Tantramsha, see http://karnatakaeducation.org.in/KOER/en/index.php/Why_public_software ಸಾರ್ವಜನಿಕ ಇಲಾಖೆಗೆ ಸಾರ್ವಜನಿಕ ತಂತ್ರಾಂಶ --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Maths & Science STF" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to mathssciencestf+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send an email to mathssciencestf@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/mathssciencestf. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
