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[Phys-L] Re: A "simple" physics problem?



Kudos to Herb for posing this charming little chestnut.
Kudos to JM for posting the solution.

It always fascinates me how having one solution
(e.g. ice remains at the surface) is such a big
impediment to finding other solutions (e.g. ice
sinks).

Being able to see past the first solution is a
crucial thinking skill. It is nice to have
good exercises in this area. Other examples
that spring to mind are the spherical "south
east north" puzzle, and the second solution
to the "annual discharge of the Mississippi"
puzzle.

Teaching kids to _think_ is more important than
any particular domain-specific physics fact we
could teach.

==============

Also Bob LaM. is right on. The air does not "hold"
moisture. This may sound like a nit-pick, but it's
not. It's Dalton's law of partial pressures.
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