Relativety Problem

jambrose · Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 1:17 pm Post subject: Relativety Problem

I have a little science problem for you all. It's from a book im reading and you might think its uber easy, but i was cunfuzzled till he explained.

You are given two identical solid gold cubes-- they are the same size and each is made from precisely the same quantity of gold. Your challenge is to find a way to make the cubes register different weights when gently resting on a fixed, exquisitely accurate scale, subject to one stipulation: you're not allowed to change the matter in either cube, so there's to be no chipping, scraping, soldering, shaving, etc.
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Moloth · Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 1:22 pm Post subject:

hm. i can think of several ways.. but i don;t know if they're breaking the rules.
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Last edited by Moloth on Tue Feb 30, 2026 13:61 am; edited 426 times in total

jambrose · Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 1:38 pm Post subject:

lets hear them Very Happy

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"In our obscurity -- in all this vastness -- there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves"

Mr_C · Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 1:41 pm Post subject:

You could theoretically hold an object over one of the cubes. The gravitational effect of that object would pull at the cube, making it read lighter than the other one.
Hey, you said the scale was "exquisitely accurate" Very Happy

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Mr_C · Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 1:43 pm Post subject:

You could also weigh them at different elevations, on different planets, etc.

Moloth · Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 1:45 pm Post subject:

applied gravitic fields, simply blowing air down on one of the cubes, heat one of the cubes... etc..
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Last edited by Moloth on Tue Feb 30, 2026 13:61 am; edited 426 times in total

jambrose · Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 1:52 pm Post subject:

the solution he provided in the book was to heat one of the gold cubes Smile

, also which i didnt specify was that they were in a room on earth and the problem had to be solved there...

aha i just thought it was very interesting
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"In our obscurity -- in all this vastness -- there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves"

Moloth · Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 1:58 pm Post subject:

me am so smrt.
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-=The Believer is Happy; the Skeptic is Wise=-

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Last edited by Moloth on Tue Feb 30, 2026 13:61 am; edited 426 times in total

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