Physics Exam from a Parallel Universe

 

I was recently driving my classic restored DeLorean, when (due to circumstances too complex to describe, but it did involve a skateboard) I came upon a fragment of a physics exam from a parallel universe. Perhaps some of you stumbled upon the other questions.

Physics Exam from a Parallel Universe

1. The index of refraction for water is 4/3. A beam of light hits the smooth surface of a body of water at an angle from the vertical of 40 degrees. 

Question: Will the skinny dippers be surprised?

2. On a frictionless surface, a block of mass M moving at speed u collides elastically with another block of the same mass that is initially at rest. After the collision, the first block moves at an angle q to its initial direction and has a speed u/2.

Question: Will full-contact martial arts figure skating be popular in the upcoming winter Olympics?

3. An observer watches as an elevator drops down past him at .90 the speed of light. He observes a man in the elevator drop his briefcase.

Question: Why is the man in the elevator screaming while repeatedly pressing the Stop button?

4. An incompressible colloidal fluid of density d flows through a horizontal pipe of radius r and then passes through a constriction of radius r/2.

Question: How quickly will this government-required toilet and sewage system start backing up at the burrito party?

Published in Humor
Tags:

This post was promoted to the Main Feed by a Ricochet Editor at the recommendation of Ricochet members. Like this post? Want to comment? Join Ricochet’s community of conservatives and be part of the conversation. Join Ricochet for Free.

There are 10 comments.

Become a member to join the conversation. Or sign in if you're already a member.
  1. Bishop Wash Member
    Bishop Wash
    @BishopWash

    Do they still assume a spherical cow first?

    • #1
  2. Bishop Wash Member
    Bishop Wash
    @BishopWash

    A satellite is orbiting at an altitude of 500 km and has a GSD of .75 m.

    Question: What will be the hot swimsuit fashion this season?

    • #2
  3. Jimmy Carter Member
    Jimmy Carter
    @JimmyCarter

    Bishop Wash (View Comment):

    A satellite is orbiting at an altitude of 500 km and has a GSD of .75 m.

    Question: What will be the hot swimsuit fashion this season?

    Answer: two piece thong bikini face masks.

    • #3
  4. Judge Mental Member
    Judge Mental
    @JudgeMental

    If the Olympics had full-contact martial arts figure skating I would watch the Olympics.

    • #4
  5. DonG (2+2=5. Say it!) Coolidge
    DonG (2+2=5. Say it!)
    @DonG

    Mark Alexander: Will full-contact martial arts figure skating be popular in the upcoming winter Olympics?

    They call that ice hockey and yes, it is part of the winter Olympics.

    • #5
  6. The Reticulator Member
    The Reticulator
    @TheReticulator

    Sounds more like a tangential universe than a parallel one. 

    • #6
  7. Clifford A. Brown Member
    Clifford A. Brown
    @CliffordBrown

    DonG (2+2=5. Say it!) (View Comment):

    Mark Alexander: Will full-contact martial arts figure skating be popular in the upcoming winter Olympics?

    They call that ice hockey and yes, it is part of the winter Olympics.

    I went to a hockey game and an MMA match broke out.

    • #7
  8. Old Bathos Member
    Old Bathos
    @OldBathos

    Extra Credit:  List the question in order of most illustrative of systemic racism to least.

    • #8
  9. Mark Alexander Inactive
    Mark Alexander
    @MarkAlexander

    Old Bathos (View Comment):

    Extra Credit: List the question in order of most illustrative of systemic racism to least.

    It’s science. Therefore, all are at maximum racist.

    • #9
  10. Judge Mental Member
    Judge Mental
    @JudgeMental

    Mark Alexander (View Comment):

    Old Bathos (View Comment):

    Extra Credit: List the question in order of most illustrative of systemic racism to least.

    It’s science. Therefore, all are at maximum racist.

    Clearly a trick question, and given it was attempting to trick good, decent people who only want to fight racism, the extra credit question is most racist of all.

    • #10
Become a member to join the conversation. Or sign in if you're already a member.