Physics education research, electronic materials, and the musings of Christopher Moore, Ph.D.
Physics education research, electronic materials, and the musings of Christopher Moore, Ph.D.
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Don't overthink the setup on this one, folks.
There are two (2) adjacent rooms. Just rooms, each with a door. Like two offices next to each other. No window in the adjoining wall.
One room has a set of three (3) on/off light switches. Plain ol' light switches. Nothing fancy. AT THE BEGINNIG OF THIS EXERCISE, THE SWITCHES ARE IN THE ***OFF*** POSITION.
The other room has a table-height stand with three (3) light bulbs. Just regular light bulbs.
You can NOT see the light bulbs from the room with the switches.
The light bulbs are wired to the switches. This is where things get fun.
You don't know which switch controls which light bulb, and it is your task to figure it out.
Here's the deal:
1) You're standing in the room with the switches. You have an infinite amount of time to mess around with the switches. Do whatever you want.
2) Once you're done fiddling with the switches, you must go from the switch room to the light bulb room.
3) You can NOT go back to the switch room.
4) Based on your manipulation of the switches, how can you tell which switch controls which bulb?
(Again, don't overthink this one. Seriously. People ask stupid questions like, "Is the wall transparent?". NO! "What if I have really long arms?" NO! "Can I use a radio remote from an electronics store?" NO!)
Last edited by Geekengineer (2009-08-18 23:20:12)
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You might want to indicate whether the switches have on/off labels, or the initial on/off state of each switch. 
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Martin wrote:
You might want to indicate whether the switches have on/off labels, or the initial on/off state of each switch.
Awww, kee-ryst. Fine. Yes, the switches have labels ("blue" and "Les Miserables" - just kidding! ON and OFF, like any other ^$^&%& light switch 
).
The switches are in the OFF position at the start. Yeah, probably should have said that at the start.
No more damn questions. Get to it, y'all.
[and no, this is NOT someone's homework assignment]
Last edited by Geekengineer (2009-08-17 20:09:37)
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Geekengineer wrote:
...Yeah, probably should have said that at the start.
"Probably?"
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*looks for "delete original post" button...*
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Hmmm
I would probably turn one of the far switches, ex: the far left switch ON and let it sit there for awhile...a long while. Then I would turn the middle switch into the ON postition as well. Right after I did that I would go into the next room with the bulbs.
The bulb that is still off is connected to the far right switch, the bulb that is on but not very hot is the middle switch, and the bulb that is on and quite hot is connected to the far left switch.
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