| Vol.
I, No. 9 | End
of School / Summer Issue | June
15th, 2001 |
Puzzling
Evidence
This Month's Puzzle
.
This
Month's Puzzle:
A Final Exam ...
in Honor of the End of School School is out, but
that's no reason to slack off, is it!?! ...  In
honor of the end of the school year, and in keeping with our theme of the Best
of the School Year, we offer the following exam.
The
Method
Listed below are two problems. Choose one and solve as
concisely and clearly as possible. ... The
Content Problem 1: Consider
the following equation: e = mc2
Provide a key and a precise definition for each term. Describe
the relationship between each pair of terms, and among all terms
conjointly. Describe what the outcome would be if
the last term were raised to the 3rd power. Explain your bases for
postulating such outcomes. Place the equation
within the larger historical context of the development of both physics
and quantum mechanics, providing names and dates where appropriate. Briefly
describe the nature of the relationship between the equation and a) a
particle theory of physics, b) a wave theory of physics, c) the theory of
a perpetually expanding universe, and c) any theory which predicts an
eventual contraction of the universe, whatever may eventuate thereafter. Be
sure to cite at least six major sources and twelve minor sources for your
answers, including at least two major works published within the last
three years, and at least four articles published within the past twelve
months from recognized journals in the field.
Problem 2: Consider
the following problem: It is 6:30 a.m. on the
Monday immediately following the end of the school year. Mistakenly,
you left your alarm clock set for this time, but since you haven't gone to
sleep before four in the morning since you finished exams until you finally
succumbed on Sunday night after a re-run of The Simpsons and had to
be carried up the stairs, this is the first morning you noticed the alarm
was still set. Purposefully, like a dutiful student, the alarm clock
has been out of reach from your beside, thereby assuring that you have to
get out of bed to turn it off. Do you ... Instinctively
get out of bed out of habit, go to the bathroom, eat breakfast, and
realize that school is out only after realizing that the bus should have
come by two hours ago? Pull a pillow
over your head and try to pretend that you don't hear it? Wonder
who invented the first alarm clock? Pick
up your older brother's cell phone, which he let you use the night
before and which is still lying within reach, in order to call your mom,
whose already outside weeding the garden, and ask her to come upstairs
and turn it off for you?
If
you chose to answer Problem 2, you can earn bonus points by also answering the
following question: What kind of ice
cream are you planning on having for breakfast?
from
the Staff of DownStreet to You Have
a Great Summer Vacation !!!
{however long it lasts}
*******
******* If you have a puzzle you'd like to submit to
our Monthly Puzzle feature, let us know by e-mail at puzzles@downstreetmagazine.com
We'll
look it over and, if we use it, you can receive a small honorarium for your
trouble. {See our Freelancers
Wanted page for more info. *******
******* .
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