Am I right? Puzzle question

[Paula H]

Hi all

Just trying to do this darn puzzle for a competition, and the first one I'm not entirely sure I've got right (well, I'm 99% sure I'm right). So I thought I'd run it by y'all, since you actually live and work in Farenheit, and we don't over here!

A ballbearing is to be dropped into each one of four beakers. In which experiment will the ball travel the slowest?

(a) Water at 20F
(b) Milk at 40F
(c) Oil at 60F
(d) Tar at 80F

Surely it's A, because isn't that below freezing in Farenheit???

Thanks!

[Chefzhat]

I think you are right!!

[SusanL]

I agree, also!

[Paula H]

Thanks for the back-up guys - I've sent in the sheet saying that it's A.

[lisas3575]

Wouldn't the water be frozen? In which case it wouldn't travel at all. Or am I being too literal? :confused:

I would have said D. :o

[RobinC]

I am thinking it might not be A (water at 20F). Just because it the temperature of the water is below freezing, does not mean the water is frozen. For example, I do not think salt water freezes at 20F.

I would look at the problems in terms of density. Milk and non-frozen water would be really close to the same density. I am pretty sure than tar is more dense than oil, so my answer would probably be D) Tar at 80F

[badunnin]

Paula - I think you are correct with A.

[Paula H]

I had already sent it off before getting the votes for D - I didn't look at it as being too too scientifically minded, as it was a puzzle!

Will get the answers in about a month, so will let you know when I find out.

[Paula H]

Just got the answers back today, and it was A - water at 20F.

I didn't win though because I stuffed up one of the other answers (even though I still think my answer was correct - it just wasn't the answer they wanted).

Thanks anyway!

[Chefzhat]

Is this a puzzle contest that you have to do by mail? And send $2?? My son is doing something like that as well. He's SURE he's going to win big money and is spending his own to do it.

Debie

[RobinC]

Now I am curious, what were some of the other questions?

[Paula H]

Originally posted by RobinC
Now I am curious, what were some of the other questions?

There were three questions - the other was a "what's special about this sentence" (the sentence contained every letter of the alphabet once only) and the other was a riddle that I can't entirely remember now.

It's a monthly competition for a mail survey group I belong to, the prize is extra points (each survey earns you points which you can redeem for various products).