Nancy claims that she can throw a ping-pong ball so that it would go a short distance, come to a dead stop, then reverse itself and come back. She also added that she wouldn't bounce the ball off anything or tie anything to it. How is this possible?
vacuum ? throw it up?
Throw it up a hill? :p
She throws it straight up? :P
Things thrown up follow a parabolic path in space-time (which do come to a complete stop a the vertex of the parabola) due to the force of gravity.
Palm the ball, then throw it while tilting your hand at a 45° angle, allowing the ball to slide off the tip of your fingers before force is applied. The ball will come to a stop when it hits the ground, then roll backwards because of backspin.
Quote from: Quik on November 14, 2005, 08:45:07 PM
Palm the ball, then throw it while tilting your hand at a 45° angle, allowing the ball to slide off the tip of your fingers before force is applied. The ball will come to a stop when it hits the ground, then roll backwards because of backspin.
Occam's Razor. I win.
Roll it with a backwards spin. :P
Quote from: Blaze on November 14, 2005, 08:59:24 PM
Roll it with a backwards spin. :P
I don't see anywhere in the riddle where it says it has to be a horrizontal throw. Besides, rolling isn't throwing. :P
Quote from: Sidoh on November 14, 2005, 09:07:10 PM
Quote from: Blaze on November 14, 2005, 08:59:24 PM
Roll it with a backwards spin. :P
I don't see anywhere in the riddle where it says it has to be a horrizontal throw. Besides, rolling isn't throwing. :P
I ment throw it with a backwards spin. :P
Quote from: Blaze on November 14, 2005, 09:08:51 PM
I ment throw it with a backwards spin. :P
Once again, I win (theoretically) due to Occam's Razor. :P
Quote from: Sidoh on November 14, 2005, 09:12:51 PM
Quote from: Blaze on November 14, 2005, 09:08:51 PM
I ment throw it with a backwards spin. :P
Once again, I win (theoretically) due to Occam's Razor. :P
Yes, you are correct. Occam's Razor is indeed appropriate here.
We had a poster at work about Occam's Razor I should have taken a picture of. It is so important in security :)
Technically, Ergot was right first.
Quote from: iago on November 14, 2005, 10:13:00 PM
Technically, Ergot was right first.
He edited it before I posted, I swear. His original post only contained "vacuum."
Haha, at least I'm pretty sure. :P
Quote from: Sidoh on November 14, 2005, 10:16:22 PM
Quote from: iago on November 14, 2005, 10:13:00 PM
Technically, Ergot was right first.
He edited it before I posted, I swear. His original post only contained "vacuum."
Haha, at least I'm pretty sure. :P
It doesn't say "edited by..."
But if you thought of it independently, then you can still feel good about yourself. Even if you ARE a dirty cheater.. :)
Quote from: Sidoh on November 14, 2005, 10:16:22 PM
He edited it before I posted, I swear. His original post only contained "vacuum."
Its still a good twenty minutes before you posted. :P
Quote from: iago on November 14, 2005, 10:20:56 PM
It doesn't say "edited by..."
But if you thought of it independently, then you can still feel good about yourself. Even if you ARE a dirty cheater.. :)
Hehe, I did.
If you edit your own post within the next minute or so after you post something, the "edit" tag doesn't appear.
Quote from: Blaze on November 14, 2005, 10:22:05 PM
Its still a good twenty minutes before you posted. :P
I still thought of it on my own. I didn't take the time to read his stupid three word post! :)
Honestly, I didn't read his post. I think I remember reading "vacuum" and kind of laughing because it made no sense, but I thought of my answer almost instantly after I read the question.
I also provided reason for why it was the way it was :)
AAANND I pwned you with Occam's Razor. :)
Quote from: Sidoh on November 14, 2005, 10:23:33 PM
I still thought of it on my own. I didn't take the time to read his stupid three word post! :)
Occam's Razor++
Quote from: Sidoh on November 14, 2005, 10:23:33 PM
I also provided reason for why it was the way it was :)
In, yet again, a profoundly nerdy way ;)
Quote from: iago on November 14, 2005, 10:24:49 PM
In, yet again, a profoundly nerdy way ;)
It's my job! :)