RSS (Latest Teaching Science web feed) Conundrums
Thursday, 26 November 2009
Helium balloon in a car conundrum
251K
Accelerate and loose items shift to the rear of a car. Decelerate and they shift forward. What does a helium balloon do? And more importantly, why?
Coin and paper conundrum
Secret Problem
Exactly half?
Think outside the box
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Conundrums
A Missing Thing
Wednesday, 16 July 2008 224K
Conundrum What is it about this paragraph that is so unusual? At first, it looks totally normal, but it isn't! Focusing your curious mind will bring its odd quality to light.
Guess the shape
Tuesday, 17 June 2008 278K
Conundrum This shape is the first in a series of nine. Can you guess the next shape?
Tie the Knot
Thursday, 28 June 2007 230K
Conundrum Here's a challenge that really can be done! Pick a piece of rope and tie a knot without letting go of either end.
Full empty full
Thursday, 14 June 2007 277K
Conundrum Line up six glasses. Fill the first three. Now move only one glass so they alternate full, empty, full. It can be done!
Free the note
Thursday, 31 May 2007 287K
Conundrum Stack four 20c coins on top of a note on top of a bottle. Using only one, straight index finger, remove the note without disturbing the coins. It can be done!
Two Candle Riddle
Thursday, 5 April 2007 282K
Conundrum A candle flame consumes oxygen and produces water vapour and carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is heavier than air. But cover two candles with a jar and the taller one goes out first. Why?
Rope around the world
Thursday, 15 February 2007 422K
Conundrum You have a piece of rope that just fits around the Earth. If you put 1 metre high sticks right around the equator and lay the rope on top, how much longer does the rope need to be to make ends meet?
Flip the triangle
Thursday, 1 February 2007 162K
Conundrum Can you turn this triangle upside down by moving only three of the coins?
Manhole covers
Thursday, 25 January 2007 267K
Conundrum Manhole covers come in many shapes. For safety however, why is a circle the best shape for covering deep holes?
Glass Half Full
Thursday, 11 January 2007 177K
Conundrum At precisely what time was the glass exactly half full with bacteria?
The missing dollar
Thursday, 28 December 2006 203K
Conundrum Three friends contribute each towards a pizza. They give the delivery driver a tip and get change each. But something weird has happened! Where is the missing dollar?
Egg Pickle
Thursday, 14 December 2006 270K
Conundrum If you have a hardboiled and a raw egg how can you tell them apart without cracking either egg's shell?
Tricky intersection
Thursday, 30 November 2006 135K
Conundrum Four cars are stopped at a four-way intersection. At the same time and at the same speed, they all drive forward and continue their journeys without colliding. How is this possible?
Cut the cake
Thursday, 16 November 2006 221K
Conundrum How can you cut a cake into eight pieces with just three perfectly straight cuts?
The surgeon
Thursday, 19 October 2006 220K
Conundrum A young man and his father are involved in a terrible car accident. Tragically, the father dies soon after. When the young man arrives at the emergency ward, the surgeon says: "I cannot operate on this young man, he is my son!" How can this be so?
