Subject: Re: Thermodynamics of Hell
From: Jim Rovira (jrovira@drew.edu)
Date: Fri May 03 2002 - 21:19:55 GMT
heh...you know, I think I read that four years ago.
It's still funny :)
Jim
Valérie Aron wrote:
> 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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