Brain Teasers
Speed of Light
Many years ago, a scientist decided to try an experiment to determine the speed of light. He would have his assistant stand at one end of a beach with a powerful flashlight, and the scientist would stand at the other end of the beach, five hundred yards away, with a stopwatch. The assistant would raise his hand and turn on the light at the same time. The scientist would time the difference between when he saw the assistant's hand go up and when he saw the light, and would calculate the speed of light, knowing the distance between them.
Now, we all know that light travels too quickly for the scientist to have even noticed a difference. However, if light traveled very slowly, the experiment would still have failed. Why?
Now, we all know that light travels too quickly for the scientist to have even noticed a difference. However, if light traveled very slowly, the experiment would still have failed. Why?
Hint
By what principle could the scientist see the assistant's hand?Answer
The only reason that the scientist could see the assistant's hand is that light from the sun reflected off the hand and travelled to the scientist's eye. If light travelled slowly, the scientist would still see the hand go up at the same time as the light was turned on. He would just see them happen a few seconds after they actually happened.Hide Hint Show Hint Hide Answer Show Answer
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Comments
Very Simple, but good for kids
I agree, very simple if you've every studied science, but still, a good teaser.
please don't mistake my criticism for cruelty.
Boy, O Wise One, I was JUST about to mistake your criticism for cruelty. I had a VICIOUS rebuttal prepared, using lots of words like "@#$%" and "%$#&^%", and I even threw in a "$$#*&^" or two! Then, just as I was about to hit the "Add Comment" button, I saw your second comment. Now my mind is filled with thoughts of rainbows and gumdrops, and the world seems to be a much happier place. Thank you for your constructive and non-antagonistic criticism.

You just need logic to answer this, not really science. But a good teaser, which has brighhtened my day no end!
Hey bobbrt, if that waz da case then how com u sent urs 2 days l8er?


Shop-a-holic: ITS CALLED SARCASM!!!!!



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