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Re: [Phys-l] Good Questions



At 05:59 PM 10/7/2006, Herb G., you wrote:
Cliff (and others)

In response to Cliff's challenge below, here are some "good ?" questions
that come right from the top of my pointy head.... ......

1. Given a round fish bowl a round marble and a ruler, predict the number
of these marbles that would be required to fill the bowl to the top.


Now that WAS a good question, for me. As soon as it is called to
attention, one computes the ratio of volumes then factors in the
stacking efficiency.

What might that be? I saw that cubes would pack at 100% efficiency
(in an infinite volume) so a first stab would be sphere vol/cube vol
or 4/3 Pi r^3 : 8 r^3 that is, 52%, efficiency then recalling
that spheres fit rather better than ..er.. is it face-centered cubic?
...., I dimly dredge up a number of less than 70% from prior tests.

This has practical merit: guessing the contents of a jar often comes
up at the county fair and so on. And I have won the giant prize at
least once, though by applying a little questioning to the
adjudicators.


Brian Whatcott Altus OK Eureka!