Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal by Zach Weinersmith for December 01, 2014
November 30, 2014
December 02, 2014
Transcript:
How introductory physics problems are written: Problem 4: A steel wall has water on one side. It is 30 meters tall and the water is 20 meters tall. Where should the axis be so that it doesn't tip over? Repeat this exercise for copper, ice, oak, osmium, neutronium, and solid xenon held together by magic. Then, repeat each case, with each of the following liquids replacing water: Mercury, liquid nitrogen, blood, petroleum, and molten lead. This problem is a bit dry. What if we added fun? Problem 4: A Superman with the properties of a steel wall has water on one side. It is 30 meters tall and the water is 20 meters tall. Where should the axis be so that it doesn't tip over? Repeat this exercise for copper, ice, oak, osmium, neutronium, and solid xenon held together by magic. Then, repeat each case, with each of the following liquids replacing water: Mercury, liquid nitrogen, blood, petroleum, and molten lead.
Unless it is a box, the liquid will just slide around the sides of the wall, no matter how well constructed. Axis irrelevant.