Fun Science Riddle + 2 bonus harder riddles + prizes
Today is Sunday (Funday) so let's do 1 informative post and 3 Fun Science Riddles
Check out today's edition here:
The Curious Quantum World: Part 5 - Uncertainty = Reality
Easier Riddle #1
What comes from a mine, and is locked in a wooden prison forever, never released, and nonetheless used by almost everybody?
Harder Riddle #2
You have a shovel which you balance on your finger keeping your finger exactly at the shovel's center of gravity. Draw a fine line on that point with a marker then cut the shovel in the center of the line. Now you are left with two different pieces of shovel one of which is longer than the other. The longer piece has the shovel tip and the shorter one the handle.
If you take the two pieces and weigh them, which will weigh more and why?
Hardest Riddle #3
16, 06, 68, 88, X, 98
What is X and why do you think it is correct?
Put your answers in the comments section.
EDIT: See comments for solutions.
WINNERS (Prize 1 Steem / Riddle)
#1 - @justtryme90 - 1 Steem
#2 - @sulev and @broer - 1 Steem each
#3 - @broer - 1 Steem
Riddle Solutions - Winners and Prizes
#1 Graphite (pencil)
(winner @justtryme90)
#2 The torque required to hold up the longer piece is responsible for the fact that the shorter piece will weigh more. This is the reason why a heavier kid sits closer to the center on a see-saw to balance against a lighter kid.
(winners @sulev and @broer)
#3. X = L8 (87 Rotated 180 deg)
Rotated 180 deg the numbers read as 91, 90, 89, 88, 87, 86
(winner @broer [even though L8 was the answer, his was closest])
the answer to the 3rd riddle is 87.
Lead (wooden prison = pencil), used by almost everyone. Though pencil lead is no longer actually Pb. Thats my guess.
If you had your finger at the shovels center of gravity, then both pieces after cutting it should weigh the same amount, that is the point of the center of gravity.
X = 78
It's made from graphite. They just call it black lead.
Indeed
try the harder riddle just updated.
I have edited answers to my original reply.
I will reveal the correct answers after 24hrs have passed. Keep the guesses coming.
the short one has to weigh more.
yes, this is correct
but why?
classical mechanics
Don't know the english terms so I'll try and explain simply. The twisting forces you get from the weight of the piece and it's length are equal. In the short piece you have to have a high weight, because the length is low. The second piece is the opposite.
That is correct.
Torque = force * lever arm (length)
force = mass (weight) * gravitational acceleration (constant)
When in balance the torque on both sides of the center of gravity is equal. When the lever arm (length) is different on both sides and the torque on both sides is equal then the mass must be different. The long arm has smaller mass, the shorter arm has a higher mass.