Another puzzle

ZenGum · 12-10-2010, 06:01 PM

In the spirit of the plane-on-a-treadmill puzzle, I ask you this:

would a siphon work on the moon?

Happy Monkey · 12-10-2010, 06:19 PM

Inside a lunar lander with atmosphere, yes. But slower.

Outside, assuming we have a fluid that stayed liquid in that environment, my guess is that it would work if you got it started, but the usual way to start it would not work.

Once it is going, I think it is powered by gravity and surface tension (which may again be affected by the fluid being used).

You wouldn't be able to start it by sucking air out of the tube. Maybe if you started with the tube fully submerged, and then pulled one end over the side.

ZenGum · 12-10-2010, 07:18 PM

Ahh, but what fluid would remain liquid, rather than immediately boiling away due to zero atmosphere? And wouldn't the boiling produce gas bubbles that would break up the siphoning effect?

HungLikeJesus · 12-10-2010, 07:31 PM

Would a toilet flush on the moon?

monster · 12-10-2010, 09:44 PM

and if so, which way would the water swirl?

toranokaze · 12-11-2010, 02:22 AM

No it won't work because you didn't pay your bill.

TheMercenary · 12-11-2010, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZenGum

would a siphon work on the moon?

If you sucked bad enough, no.

footfootfoot · 12-11-2010, 09:19 AM

From your favorite source of all things informational:
Vacuum siphons

Experiments have shown that siphons can operate in a vacuum, provided that the liquids are pure and degassed and surfaces are very clean.[31][32][33]
[edit] Oxford English Dictionary

The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) entry on siphon, published in 1911, states that a siphon works by atmospheric pressure. Stephen Hughes of Queensland University of Technology criticised this in a 2010 article[9] which was widely reported in the media.[34][35][36][37] The OED editors stated, "there is continuing debate among scientists as to which view is correct. ... We would expect to reflect this debate in the fully updated entry for siphon, due to be published later this year."[38] Dr. Hughes continued to defend his view of the siphon in a late September post at the Oxford blog.[39]

Griff · 12-11-2010, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZenGum

In the spirit of the plane-on-a-treadmill puzzle, I ask you this:

would a siphon work on the moon?

It doesn't matter, I'm pretty sure Jack Schmitt forgot to fill up the rover after his joy-ride. Some kids are just irresponsible.

Happy Monkey · 12-13-2010, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZenGum

Ahh, but what fluid would remain liquid, rather than immediately boiling away due to zero atmosphere? And wouldn't the boiling produce gas bubbles that would break up the siphoning effect?

I'm not sure, but as you can see, I assumed that complication away.

If there is no liquid that can remain so in a vacuum, then of course you can't siphon one. And you probably couldn't maintain a siphon for very long on a liquid that is in the process of boiling or freezing.

But I'll stick with my answer if the liquid exists (and footfootfoot's wikipedia link seems to say it does).

BigV · 12-13-2010, 04:53 PM

Perhaps a siphon filled with mercury, set up on the surface of the moon in the sunshine. Mercury's freezing point is lower than the average daylight surface temperature of the moon. I doubt mercury has dissolved gas in it.

Lamplighter · 12-13-2010, 05:03 PM

BigV's proposed tube of mercury might be modified with a semi-permeable membrane to allow a strange form of osmosis to occur. Maybe it's not a true "siphon" but it might move something from one place to another (in any direction)

Gravdigr · 12-14-2010, 02:57 AM

Never mind that shit, here comes Mongo!!

glatt · 03-28-2012, 07:44 AM

I'm resurrecting this old thread to post this puzzle.

No Google. No cheating.

What do these mean? (I haven't seen an answer key, but I got 5 of them so far. I'm sure there has to be an answer key out there, since I saw this on FB)

Name: puzzle.jpg
Views: 179
Size: 26.8 KB

Name: puzzle.jpg
Views: 179
Size: 26.8 KB

glatt · 03-28-2012, 07:45 AM

Wait. I know them all except the bottom right one.

12-10-2010, 06:01 PM	#1
ZenGum Doctor Wtf Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Badelaide, Baustralia Posts: 12,861	Another puzzle In the spirit of the plane-on-a-treadmill puzzle, I ask you this: would a siphon work on the moon? __________________ Shut up and hug. MoreThanPretty, Nov 5, 2008. Just because I'm nominally polite, does not make me a pussy. Sundae Girl.

12-10-2010, 06:19 PM	#2
Happy Monkey I think this line's mostly filler. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: DC Posts: 13,575	Inside a lunar lander with atmosphere, yes. But slower. Outside, assuming we have a fluid that stayed liquid in that environment, my guess is that it would work if you got it started, but the usual way to start it would not work. Once it is going, I think it is powered by gravity and surface tension (which may again be affected by the fluid being used). You wouldn't be able to start it by sucking air out of the tube. Maybe if you started with the tube fully submerged, and then pulled one end over the side. __________________ _________________ \|...............\| We live in the nick of times. \| Len 17, Wid 3 \| \|_______________\| [pics]

12-10-2010, 07:18 PM	#3
ZenGum Doctor Wtf Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Badelaide, Baustralia Posts: 12,861	Ahh, but what fluid would remain liquid, rather than immediately boiling away due to zero atmosphere? And wouldn't the boiling produce gas bubbles that would break up the siphoning effect? __________________ Shut up and hug. MoreThanPretty, Nov 5, 2008. Just because I'm nominally polite, does not make me a pussy. Sundae Girl.

12-10-2010, 07:31 PM	#4
HungLikeJesus Only looks like a disaster tourist Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: above 7,000 feet Posts: 7,208	Would a toilet flush on the moon? __________________ Keep Your Bodies Off My Lawn SteveDallas's Random Thread Picker.

12-10-2010, 09:44 PM	#5
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	and if so, which way would the water swirl? __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

12-11-2010, 02:22 AM	#6
toranokaze I'm still a jerk Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Little Mexico Posts: 1,817	No it won't work because you didn't pay your bill. __________________ "Without deviation from the norm progress is not possible." - Frank Zappa It is the ignorance of ignorance that lead to the death of knowledge The Virgin Mary does not weep for her son, for he is in paradise. She weeps for the world , for we are in suffering.

12-11-2010, 09:19 AM	#8
footfootfoot To shreds, you say? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in the house and on the street-how many, many feet we meet! Posts: 18,449	From your favorite source of all things informational: Vacuum siphons Experiments have shown that siphons can operate in a vacuum, provided that the liquids are pure and degassed and surfaces are very clean.[31][32][33] [edit] Oxford English Dictionary The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) entry on siphon, published in 1911, states that a siphon works by atmospheric pressure. Stephen Hughes of Queensland University of Technology criticised this in a 2010 article[9] which was widely reported in the media.[34][35][36][37] The OED editors stated, "there is continuing debate among scientists as to which view is correct. ... We would expect to reflect this debate in the fully updated entry for siphon, due to be published later this year."[38] Dr. Hughes continued to defend his view of the siphon in a late September post at the Oxford blog.[39] __________________ The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs

12-13-2010, 04:53 PM	#11
BigV Goon Squad Leader Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 27,063	Perhaps a siphon filled with mercury, set up on the surface of the moon in the sunshine. Mercury's freezing point is lower than the average daylight surface temperature of the moon. I doubt mercury has dissolved gas in it. __________________ Be Just and Fear Not.

12-13-2010, 05:03 PM	#12
Lamplighter Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Bottom lands of the Missoula floods Posts: 6,402	BigV's proposed tube of mercury might be modified with a semi-permeable membrane to allow a strange form of osmosis to occur. Maybe it's not a true "siphon" but it might move something from one place to another (in any direction)

12-14-2010, 02:57 AM	#13
Gravdigr The Un-Tuckian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: South Central...KY that is Posts: 39,517	Never mind that shit, here comes Mongo!! __________________ These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, EPA, FBI, DEA, CDC, or FDIC. These statements are not intended to diagnose, cause, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you feel you have been harmed/offended by, or, disagree with any of the above statements or images, please feel free to fuck right off.

03-28-2012, 07:44 AM	#14
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	I'm resurrecting this old thread to post this puzzle. No Google. No cheating. What do these mean? (I haven't seen an answer key, but I got 5 of them so far. I'm sure there has to be an answer key out there, since I saw this on FB)

03-28-2012, 07:45 AM	#15
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	Wait. I know them all except the bottom right one.

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