Subject: Thermodynamics of Hell
From: Valérie Aron (kate.beown@wanadoo.fr)
Date: Mon Feb 04 2002 - 07:10:52 GMT
It has nothing to see with Salinger. Sorry. But I'm reluctant not to send something which could make you
laugh...
Valérie
>>Subject: Thermodynamics of Hell
>>
>>
>>This is classic...
>>
>>The following is 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 off when it expands and heats up 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 that souls are moving into Hell and the rate 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, lets look at the different
>>religions that exist in the world today. Some of these religions state that
>>if you are not a member of their religion, you will go to Hell. Since there
>>are 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 still have not succeeded in
>>having sexual relations with her, then, #2 cannot be true, and thus I am
>>sure that Hell is exothermic and will not freeze.
>>
>>The student received the only "A" given.
>>
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