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Topic: Problem with Glass Half Full... (Read 1101 times) |
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2016
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Well, Forgive the brevity of this post, but my first attempt was destroyed and now I don't have a lot of time.
The problem with both solutions discussed in thread http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~wwu/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=riddles_eas y;action=display;num=1043895929;start=2 is that they assume that the surface of the water is flat. It is not flat because of the meniscus. Defined by dictionary.com as "The curved upper surface of a nonturbulent liquid in a container that is concave if the liquid wets the container walls and convex if it does not."
Does anyone have a solution that works considering the meniscus?
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aero_guy
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Re: Problem with Glass Half Full...
« Reply #1 on: Feb 12th, 2003, 12:22pm » |
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This is what we in aerospace like to call a "higher order effect". We have a very handy way of dealing with terms that are too small, too complicated, or we just don't understand: We ignore them. I think I can safely say that as far as the problem is concerned, the meniscus falls into this category, actually all three. (OK, maybe not the last, but darned if I know the equations to find the curvature of the liquid.) Think of this next time you take an airline flight.
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2016
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Re: Problem with Glass Half Full...
« Reply #2 on: Feb 12th, 2003, 4:00pm » |
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Yes, it is a higher order effect - but I was struck by the italicized 'accurately' in the riddle as well as the fact that the author of the site called the solution 'sexy.'
Although it is not stated, I also _assume_ that the author means right _circular_ cylinder. There are many 'right cylinders' that would make this problem more challenging.
Anyhoo, I figure you prolly just reeled me in from hyper-anal-rententive world. So, thanks.
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aero_guy
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Re: Problem with Glass Half Full...
« Reply #3 on: Feb 12th, 2003, 4:36pm » |
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Hey, someone else is being hyper-anal-rententive? I have a habit for that, and for concentrating on the fifth decimal point when there is a problem with the order of magnitude itself, so I relate. 
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