NationStates Jolt Archive


This gave me a laugh :)

Kanabia
26-11-2004, 16:22
I got sent this via. E-mail, so i'm not sure if it's done the rounds yet, but incase it hasn't, here it is :D Don't be put off by the jargon, just read on.

Is Hell Exothermic?

The following is supposedly an actual question given on a University of Washington chemistry mid-term. The answer by one student was so "profound" that the professor shared it with colleagues, via the Internet, which is, of course, why we now have the pleasure of enjoying it as well.

Bonus Question: Is Hell exothermic (gives off heat) or endothermic (absorbs heat)?

Most of the students wrote proofs of their beliefs using Boyle's Law (gas cools when it expands and heats when it is compressed) or some variant.

One student, however, wrote the following:

First, we need to know how the mass of Hell is changing in time. So we need to know the rate at which souls are moving into Hell and the rate at which they are leaving. I think that we can safely assume that once a soul gets to Hell, it will not leave. Therefore, no souls are leaving.

As for how many souls are entering Hell, let's look at the different Religions that exist in the world today. Most of these religions state that if you are not a member of their religion, you will go to Hell. Since there is more than one of these religions and since people do not belong to more than one religion, we can project that all souls go to Hell.

With birth and death rates as they are, we can expect the number of souls in Hell to increase exponentially. Now, we look at the rate of change of the volume in Hell because Boyle's Law states that in order for the temperature and pressure in Hell to stay the same, the volume of Hell has to expand proportionately as souls are added.

This gives two possibilities:

1. If Hell is expanding at a slower rate than the rate at which souls enter Hell, then the temperature and pressure in Hell will increase until all Hell breaks loose.

2. If Hell is expanding at a rate faster than the increase of souls in Hell, then the temperature and pressure will drop until Hell freezes over.

So which is it?

If we accept the postulate given to me by Teresa during my Freshman year that, "it will be a cold day in Hell before I sleep with you, and take into account the fact that I slept with her last night, then number 2 must be true, and thus I am sure that Hell is exothermic and has already frozen over.

The corollary of this theory is that since Hell has frozen over, it follows that it is not accepting any more souls and is therefore, extinct...leaving only Heaven thereby proving the existence of a divine being which explains why, last night, Teresa kept shouting "Oh my God."

THIS STUDENT RECEIVED THE ONLY "A"
Ice Hockey Players
26-11-2004, 16:28
I hadn't heard this version of that before...still funny nonetheless...
Torching Witches
26-11-2004, 16:28
This is the second forum I've seen this on. The lecturer must be pretty sad to give an A to someone who used an essay as excuse to brag about getting laid. Almost a very clever theory though, it has to be said. He just spoils it by being a self-congratulatory wanker.
Kanabia
26-11-2004, 16:31
Heh, yeah, but just imagine wading through tons of work featuring answers trying to explain it seriously, then coming across that. I'd feel like giving him an "A" too.
Ruaritania
26-11-2004, 16:46
i like that!
Was talking to a friend of mine who studies philosophy, he knew a guy in the previous years class who answered the [deep philosophical] question of "What is a question?" [in his end of year exams!] with " If that is a question, then this is the answer."
I''m sure most of the rest of the class gave longer answers but hey, if it works!! :)
Dalradia
26-11-2004, 16:46
Well funny.
Mekonia
26-11-2004, 23:35
i like that!
Was talking to a friend of mine who studies philosophy, he knew a guy in the previous years class who answered the [deep philosophical] question of "What is a question?" [in his end of year exams!] with " If that is a question, then this is the answer."
I''m sure most of the rest of the class gave longer answers but hey, if it works!! :)

I'll back this up..cos I was the one who told Ruaritania the story! And I'm a girl...some friend fruit shortie....

Stuffed Rasher
Andaluciae
26-11-2004, 23:52
qual-ee-tay!
Paxania
27-11-2004, 00:19
My old math teacher had a college exam once where when they flipped over the papers, there was one question:

"Why?"

She saw everyone else writing hurriedly, and wondered what they could be writing. She got an A for her answer:

"Why not?"