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A large truck is crossing a bridge 1 mile long. The bridge can only hold 14000 lbs, which is the exact weight of the truck. The truck makes it half way across the bridge and stops. A bird lands on the truck. Does the bridge collapse? Give a reason.
OK, I'll stop after this one :D
Filipe M.
21-02-07, 10:45 AM
Will the bird take off when it senses the bridge going kaput?
A large truck is crossing a bridge 1 mile long. The bridge can only hold 14000 lbs, which is the exact weight of the truck. The truck makes it half way across the bridge and stops. A bird lands on the truck. Does the bridge collapse? Give a reason.
OK, I'll stop after this one :D
No, the H&S people would of put signs saying it can only hold 14000lbs. When infact it can hold 24000lbs.
yes it will collapse - because...
14000lbs + weight of bird is greater than supposed breaking strain. It's a bit like have a lorry that weighs 14000lbs and then filling up its trailer with 'stuff' - the two combined become the total overall weight. I reckon. Does it have a plimsol line?!?! :D
No one has mentioned either that the truck weights 14000lbs nothing about the driver or its load.
Dan
yes it will collapse - because...
14000lbs + weight of bird is greater than supposed breaking strain. It's a bit like have a lorry that weighs 14000lbs and then filling up its trailer with 'stuff' - the two combined become the total overall weight. I reckon. Does it have a plimsol line?!?! :D
Nice thinking, but wrong.
No one has mentioned either that the truck weights 14000lbs nothing about the driver or its load.
Dan
It's assumed that the entire truck, including the driver etc weighs 14000lbs. Now get on with the answer (and reason) :D
Will the bird take off when it senses the bridge going kaput?
Wouldn't that cause a slight downdraft on the truck as the bird took off? :D
Filipe M.
21-02-07, 11:47 AM
Wouldn't that cause a slight downdraft on the truck as the bird took off? :D
It depends if said bird is VTOL, HTOL, and the length of the treadmill. Oh, and friction! :lol:
Depends on the weight of the bird & the amount of fuel consumed to get the lorry half way across.
I would guess that normal lorry & sparrow/pidgeon (not a vulture with a horses carcass in its mouth!!!) then:
It won't collapse!
Nutkins
21-02-07, 11:52 AM
Is 14000lbs the ultimate weight the bridge can hold, or the safe weight it can hold?
If it's the ultimate weight then chances are the resulting displacement from the dymanics imposed by the truck driving onto the bridge would've outshone the dicky-bird taking a pew.
How big is the bird? Is it possible, the said beasty could've flown off with the truck?
Nutkins
21-02-07, 11:54 AM
Of course, if it's 140000 lbs with safety factors built in, then the little birdy can jump up and down on the vehicle .... and so can the rest of his flock (within reason).
plowsie
21-02-07, 11:55 AM
i reckon it collapses when he reaches the middle dunno why i just reckon that is the answer :D
In order to maintain air-speed velocity, a swallow needs to beat its wings forty-three times every second
Depends on the weight of the bird & the amount of fuel consumed to get the lorry half way across.
I would guess that normal lorry & sparrow/pidgeon (not a vulture with a horses carcass in its mouth!!!) then:
It won't collapse!
Thread closed, we have a wiener! Opps! Winner :eek:
So you're saying that as long as the weight of the fuel used exceeds the weight of the bird then no there will be no collapse.
But this flies in the face of the assumption, which is a known known. It's silly to have known or unknown unknowns, and we would not have considered the weight of the fuel used as an unknown known because it was set out as part of a known known. The weight of the bird is an unknown known, so how the hell are we supposed to know the answer to the quezzie?
So you're saying that as long as the weight of the fuel used exceeds the weight of the bird then no there will be no collapse.
But this flies in the face of the assumption, which is a known known. It's silly to have known or unknown unknowns, and we would not have considered the weight of the fuel used as an unknown known because it was set out as part of a known known. The weight of the bird is an unknown known, so how the hell are we supposed to know the answer to the quezzie?
Is that another puzzle? :D
It's called assumptions. :)
If the fuel used, weighs the same as the bird (plus any draft's caused by langing/take-off/flatulence), then the bridge survives.
If not, bye bye bridge.
How long is the lorry? If it's over a mile long it doesn't matter.
So you're saying that as long as the weight of the fuel used exceeds the weight of the bird then no there will be no collapse.
But this flies in the face of the assumption, which is a known known. It's silly to have known or unknown unknowns, and we would not have considered the weight of the fuel used as an unknown known because it was set out as part of a known known. The weight of the bird is an unknown known, so how the hell are we supposed to know the answer to the quezzie?
yeah!! What he said!! *Brandishes cutlass*!!:)
Terence
21-02-07, 03:03 PM
In order to maintain air-speed velocity, a swallow needs to beat its wings forty-three times every second
Depends if its an african or european swallow...
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