Floating Rocks
Science brain teasers require understanding of the physical or biological world and the laws that govern it.
As Axton and his good mate G were driving along the mighty River Murray, Axton said, "I bet you I can make a rock float on the River." G said, "That's impossible! I bet you $10 you can't."
Axton drove home with the $10 in his pocket.
How is this possible?
Answer
Axton threw a rock called PUMICE into the river.
Pumice is created in volcanic eruptions and is loaded with gas bubbles. Pumice is known to float in small quantities.
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Comments
I_am_the_Omega  
Nov 06, 2004
| I was thinking that he pinched the $10 from his friend anyways.. but i guess your answer's better hehe |
bookworm696 
Jan 16, 2005
| i got this one too. cool lol. well anyways good try  |
theketchupwins
Feb 13, 2005
| pretty easy, but a good idea none the less. |
Gandalf
Feb 14, 2005
| pretty easy |
xx_werecat_xx
Mar 18, 2005
| I figured he already had 10 bucks!
But, no you guys have to go and get PUMICE! I knew that!   |
stevier316
Apr 15, 2005
| Studied most of the principals in the science braingles. |
Nicholle
Apr 22, 2005
| I knew this... In third grade when we studied rocks we got some, i think it was pumice, and it floated. Is it true that if you had a big enough bathtub, the planet Saturn would float? My brother told me that one. |
shandela
May 02, 2005
| I learned about this 15 years ago from the Magic School Bus Book. Those were my favorite books. I love science. |
bigSWAFF_69_  
May 18, 2005
| the way that u worded it made it seem that the Axton could have already had $10. But, my first thought was "river rock" (i think that is a name for that krap) but i knew it would be that porusy stuff. (does porusy fit here?) |
onlyeeyore
Jun 07, 2005
| I guessed volcanic rock, so I'll give myself half-credit. Good teaser! |
toupsy121
Jun 29, 2005
| i got it right. i think that satturn might floar because it is a gas planet. depending on what the gasses are and what the core is made of it could float. |
toupsy121
Jun 29, 2005
| but of course the bath tub would have to be on jupitor because on earth, satturn would everwhelm earth gravity and satturn would become down to satturn wuld have water running on it. |
norcekri
Jul 01, 2005
| Geez, I had several other answers. First of all, pumice isn't the only rock with a practical density less than 1. Also, we have a number of carved rocks at home whose displacement is greater than their weight. Next, he could place a common rock in a water craft and fulfill the bet.
Outside the puzzle's given category, though, was my first thought. Grab a picnic table on the river (next to the river, physically on the bank). Pull out your ice cream and selzer, put them in a glass, and add a rock -- one rock float! |
sweetime
Jul 22, 2005
| the teaser states that he could MAKE a rock float in the river, not that he could find a rock that would float in the river.
if it's simply a matter of MAKING the rock float, he could place it on a raft, put a small rock in a sealed and otherwise empty container, etc.... |
bookworm91
Nov 10, 2005
| well my first thought was pumice. but then, we have a pool and we clean the sides with pumice....its fun watching it float around. so even if there are other possible answers, pumice fits. therefore the teaser is perfectly fine. i liked it. that;s all that counts. (lol) |
rkaaland
Dec 10, 2005
| Good One!!!  |
Vudluxi
Jun 01, 2006
| What if we're all just floating about in a giant bath tub - I think God would have pulled the plug by now |
vbguy101
Aug 20, 2006
| It's also really lightweight. |
jsdodgers
Sep 29, 2007
| Way to easy, boring one, almost put me to sleep.  |
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