How to measure a skyscraper with a barometer

[base283 0]

Posted by the notorious "keydeck" on another website http://www.toytownmunich.com . I like it . Thought you´d like it.

keydeck posted;

"Often these stories are nothing more than myth & legend but they still make for a good read.

The following concerns a question in a physics degree exam at the University of Copenhagen:

"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."

While the answer was original, it 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 which showed at least a minimal familiarity with the basic principles of physics.

But 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 extrememly relevant answers, but couldn't make up his mind which to use.

On being advised to hurry up the student replied as follows:

"Firstly, 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 = .5g x t squared. But bad luck on the barometer.

"Or, 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*Sqrt[1/g].

"Or, if the skyscraper has an outside emergency staircase, one could walk up the staircase and mark off the height of the skyscraper in barometer lengths and then add them up.

"If you merely wanted to be boring and orthodox about it, of course, you could use the barometer to measure the air pressure on the roof of the skyscraper and on the gound, and convert the difference in millibars into feet to give the height of the building.

"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 will tell me the height of this skyscraper'."

The student was Niels Bohr, Nobel Prize winning physicist."

end of post.

take care
space
end of post

[mr2mk1g 10]

Nice.

Or he could have responded "Press 'Mode' once, then hold 'Set' till the crescent shape starts to flash, then press either 'On/Off' or 'Quick' once before pressing 'Mode' once more. Your barometer is now set to altimeter setting".

I guess this would only work if you're using a Suunto barometer though... His answer was funnier.

Along the same lines as the one where the exam essay question is: "Define Courage". The student answers: "This is" and receives an 'A'.

[yoink 321]

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Nice. Along the same lines as the one where the exam essay question is: "Define Courage". The student answers: "This is" and receives an 'A'.

I always thought that would be more truthful if the question read "Define being a cocky little shit..."

[AggieDave 6]

*cough*Check Snopes next time*cough*

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[jakee 1,596]

*cough* check the 4th line of the post Dave *cough*

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Often these stories are nothing more than myth & legend but they still make for a good read.

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[base283 0]

Hi AggieDave

“keydeck posted;

"Often these stories are nothing more than myth & legend but they still make for a good read.”

Attention to detail is important for a skydiver. Or………. What is your take on reading comprehension? I covered my butt by posting the above.
Take care,
space