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A BIT OF PHYSICS HUMOUR
Sir Ezrnest Rutherford, President of the Royal Academy, and recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physics, related the following story:
"Some time ago I received a call from a colleague. He was about to give a student a zero for his answer to a physics
Sir Ezrnest Rutherford, President of the Royal Academy, and recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physics, related the following story:
"Some time ago I received a call from a colleague. He was about to give a student a zero for his answer to a physics
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question, while the student claimed a perfect score. The instructor and the student agreed to an impartial arbiter, and I was selected.
I read the examination question: "Show how it is possible to determine the height of a tall building with the aid of a barometer."
question, while the student claimed a perfect score. The instructor and the student agreed to an impartial arbiter, and I was selected.
I read the examination question: "Show how it is possible to determine the height of a tall building with the aid of a barometer."
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The student had answered: "Take the barometer to the top of the building,attach a long rope to it, lower it to the street, and then bring it up, measuring the length of the rope. The length of the rope is the height of the building."
The student really had a strong case
The student had answered: "Take the barometer to the top of the building,attach a long rope to it, lower it to the street, and then bring it up, measuring the length of the rope. The length of the rope is the height of the building."
The student really had a strong case
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for full credit since he had really answered the question completely and correctly! On the other hand, if full credit were given, it could well contribute to a high grade in his physics course and certify competence in physics, but the answer did not confirm this.
for full credit since he had really answered the question completely and correctly! On the other hand, if full credit were given, it could well contribute to a high grade in his physics course and certify competence in physics, but the answer did not confirm this.
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I suggested that the student have another try. I gave the student six minutes to answer the question with the warning that the answer should show some knowledge of physics.
At the end of five minutes, he hadn't written anything. I asked if he wished to give up,
I suggested that the student have another try. I gave the student six minutes to answer the question with the warning that the answer should show some knowledge of physics.
At the end of five minutes, he hadn't written anything. I asked if he wished to give up,
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but he said he had many answers to this problem; he was just thinking of the best one. I excused myself for interrupting him and asked him to please go on. In the next minute, he dashed off his answer, which read: "Take the barometer to the top of the building and lean over the
but he said he had many answers to this problem; he was just thinking of the best one. I excused myself for interrupting him and asked him to please go on. In the next minute, he dashed off his answer, which read: "Take the barometer to the top of the building and lean over the
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edge of the roof. Drop the barometer, timing its fall with a stopwatch.
Then, using the formula x=0.5*a*t^2, calculate the height of the building."
At this point, I asked my colleague if he would give up. He conceded, and gave the student almost full credit.
edge of the roof. Drop the barometer, timing its fall with a stopwatch.
Then, using the formula x=0.5*a*t^2, calculate the height of the building."
At this point, I asked my colleague if he would give up. He conceded, and gave the student almost full credit.
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Please cont Reading..
While leaving my colleague's office, I recalled that the student had said that he had other answers to the (cont) http://tl.gd/n_1srbf40
Please cont Reading..
While leaving my colleague's office, I recalled that the student had said that he had other answers to the (cont) http://tl.gd/n_1srbf40
