Brain Teasers
Stuck in the Snow
Al's old rear-wheel-drive (2WD) pick-up truck is stuck in the snow. He does have a few concrete blocks loaded in the back but where should he locate them for maximum weight and traction on the rear tires? In front of the axle as far forward as possible, directly over the rear axle or behind the axle as far to the rear as possible?
Hint
The bed of the truck is a kind of lever and the rear wheels are the fulcrum.Answer
As far to the rear as possible. However slight, this will have the effect of taking some weight off of the front axle. That weight has to go somewhere and the only other place it can go is onto the rear axle. If you had enough weight, or a long enough truck, you could even raise the front wheels off the ground. (Not recommended. In fact, as soon as Al gets unstuck again, he should distribute the blocks evenly in the bed so that there is sufficient weight and balance on all the tires for safe braking and steering traction.)Hide Hint Show Hint Hide Answer Show Answer
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Comments
Correct. Also if he still couldn't get out, he could drain some coolant from his radiator and pour it on the ice under the tires. Actually though, it's not a bad idea to carry a gallon of antifreeze with you in the winter for that purpose.
hey don.....I don't think the epa would appreciate your suggestion. I don't know how detrimental ethylene glycol is to the environment, but I bet sand would be more safe
Wonderful teaser - easy for someone growing up in the snow.
How about sticking those blocks under the tires, then driving out (what a novel idea).
How about breaking the cinder blocks into little rocks, then placing them under and in front of the RIGHT REAR tire, for traction? If the truck has "Posi-traction", then place the rocks under and in front of BOTH wheels.
And don't stand in back of the truck, when the driver hits the throttle!
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